We decide what artistic endeavour passed approval to earn the Scorcher label from the past seven days & what also had the dishonour of being that week's Torture...
War and Mobsters have been the order of the day over this last week. My scorcher is full of material ripe for a film adaptation. I would love to see a screen version of No. 46 Squadron and all the triumph and tragedy associated with Tom Cundall and Co.
Sometimes you have to be careful what you wish for as not all book adaptations work out as my torture this week did not live up to expectations. I haven't actually read the novel but I am keen to give it a perusal.
The Scorcher
There are many books covering the events of World War I but not too many that focus solely on the newest form of warfare of the time: war in the air. Author V.M. Yeates was a fighter pilot with No. 46 Squadron and wrote his novel Winged Victory based on his and his fellow pilots experiences during the Great War.
Whilst this is a work of fiction, it is based around actual events and draws extensively from Yeates' memory for detail of the reality of war. His exposure to the ghastly goings on around him and the other flight crew are told in great detail through the eyes of the main protagonist Tom Cundall. Some of the supporting characters are heavily influenced by the people who fought alongside Yeates.
Yeates puts across the differing views of the pilots and the debates they share about the futility of war. Some of these views are unfortunately still as relevant today when compared with the conflicts still going on around the world. It is quite confronting to realise that soldiers had similar opinions about world leaders and the money grabbing ways of people who are out to profit from war. They are the same sentiments that many people feel today.
There is an awful lot of repetition in this story as Cundall goes on flight after flight, often with no real purpose or result. This can make the book quite a grind to get through but I chose to view it differently. I put myself fully into Cundall's position and treated it as an opportunity to experience the monotony and drudgery of war that he had to go through day after day. It helped me gain a better perspective of the character and allowed me to feel his frustration more as he questions what it is that he is actually achieving; other than constantly putting himself in danger of being killed.
Normally when people think about WWI the first thing that pops into mind is the endless trench warfare and the other types of battles that took place tend to be forgotten. It was very refreshing to get a real understanding of how these pioneering pilots fought in a new theatre of war.
It was fascinating reading about the dogfights and the fragile nature of these early aircraft. The everyday life on the ground was just as enthralling as the descriptions of the flights. It appears that their living conditions are a million miles away from what the average Tommy was having to put up with as they buried their heads in a foxhole; hoping that the next mortar shell would pass them by. By comparison Cundall and his friends live in relative comfort when not flying and are often found spending their evenings in drunken debauchery.
That isn't to say that they aren't under duress as shelling often occurs close to their quarters but nowhere near the same levels as the trenches. It is once the pilots take to the sky that their lives are truly in danger and because they are living with the knowledge that each day could very well be their last; you can excuse their excessive behaviour.
I would describe this novel as an aerial version of All Quiet on the Western Front with its pessimistic views about the ensuing conflict. The real tragedy with both novels is that the two authors were writing from the heart in the hope that tales such as these would help prevent more wars in the future. Yeates passed away before WWII commenced; I can only imagine what his thoughts would have been about the terrible events to come.
The Torture
I have an inherent fondness for gangster flicks. Give me a Wiseguy and a Tommy gun and usually I am already in the ticket aisle. The trailer for Live By Night had me all excited and having enjoyed the films that Ben Affleck has directed found this film ticking all the right columns. The end result however was a bit of a letdown.
This film is just so slow with endless amounts of time spent basically setting things up just so we can get a massive set piece close to the end of the movie. It is filled with cliché after cliché and doesn't stray from any average, formulaic gangster flick. It is such a shame that Affleck couldn't inject the film with some more life as the story itself is a solid one; which makes me think that the book would be much more entertaining than this adaptation.
Affleck's Joe Coughlin isn't a nice guy and at no point does he appear to be a nice guy; so I had a hard time rooting for him. He starts out like "I don't want to be a gangster, just a bank robber," then goes to "I want to be a gangster, but only for revenge," and then just ends up as "I am a gangster and revenge will come second now". His motivation shifts dramatically from start to finish; so much so that you have a hard time understanding his thinking. It had me wondering if all along he did in fact secretly want to be part of the mob.
The supporting cast are all given little to do as they flitter in and out of Coughlin's life. Actors like Chris Cooper and Brendan Gleeson are wasted in the small roles afforded them. Those roles are nothing though compared to the short shrift given to the female cast members. None of the women have much to do and it hurts the end product.
Zoe Saldana is supposed to play the love interest; or more accurately the replacement love interest after the first one, Sienna Miller, is disposed of. However she has such a small amount of screen time that you don't feel any emotional connection to her or her relationship with Coughlin. Once their romantic subplot played out I felt next to no sympathy for the outcome because they spent hardly any time building her character.
I will admit the final shoot out that the film builds to is impressive, but it is too little too late to salvage your interest. By the time it reached this stage I didn't care who lived or died. This confrontation isn't the end though as the movie then pulls a The Return of the King on us and keeps going and going; showing more of Coughlin's story that also fails to hold your attention.
Affleck goes for a Film Noir feel with the look and style of the 1930's setting that mostly works. His Coughlin narrates during the entire film which is distracting in itself, but also gives you an early indication that this guy will probably make it out alive come the end. What it also does is show that Affleck couldn't come up with a better way of telling the story, other than through a narrator. That should have been enough of a warning to make me reach for the book instead.
The Witch Trial:
Rumours of strange goings on in the neighbourhood of Hawkins have brought us to investigate and see if we can uncover what is taking place. Will we get to the bottom of what has happened to Will Byers and will anyone be burnt at the stake for these crimes? Read on to find out how our trial went. Who:
Director: The Duffer Brothers
Starring: Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Matthew Modine, Cara Buono and a whole host of young stars in the making What:
Horror/Drama Why:
Season One When:
Released 2016 Where:
Set in 1983 in Indiana
The Case For:
I have promised this trial on a couple of occasions now and thought it was high time to get round to putting the collaborators on the stand. I am not going to make any excuses for what follows as I am going to gush buckets of praise upon these souls.
For those that don't know what Stranger Things is about here is a rundown. The basic story is set during the early 1980's in the Midwest of America in the fictitious town of Hawkins. Will Byers a local kid has gone missing in strange circumstances. His three best friends Mike Wheeler, Dustin Henderson and Lucas Sinclair are determined to get to the bottom of what has happened. They are aided in this quest by a mysterious girl known only as Eleven. Meanwhile Will's frantic mother Joyce believes that Will is trying to contact her using psychic means. This irritates her eldest son Jonathan who thinks his mum is just having manic episodes in dealing with her loss.
Jim Hopper the chief of police leads the investigation and starts to think that Joyce might not be as crazy as she appears. Eventually Jonathan starts to also come to the same conclusion with the help of Nancy Wheeler, Mike's older sister whose best friend Barb also seems to have disappeared.
In the background there is some mysterious goings on by a secret government agency led by Martin Brenner and this agency has a connection to Eleven. Brenner's G-Men will use any means necessary to get her back to the laboratory.
This may all sound a bit convoluted but the actual plot unfolds in a manner that is quite easy to follow. The main characters are slowly introduced so you get a good handle on who is who and how each of these people relates to one another. As the episodes tick by you learn more about each person and the development of the main cast is handled very well indeed.
I feel it is best if I approach this slightly differently to normal as there are a lot of characters involved in this production. So I am going to work through them group by group or family by family if you like; and examine what were the most interesting moments or traits of each one.
With this approach in mind lets first look at the Byers family who, let's face it, are the main focus of the whole story. Will himself only has a small part to play. Noah Schnapp who has this role is very good at portraying the fear and dread felt by a boy scared out of his wits. In fact it is fair to say that in the vast majority of cases the casting director got everyone spot on for their parts. There is hardly anyone who seems out of place.
Elder brother Jonathan played by Charlie Heaton is the quiet natured outcast often seen in high schools. Most view him as a freak but straight from the off you can tell that Nancy Wheeler has a different opinion of him. The brotherly relationship shared between Jonathan and Will (shown in flashback) is one of closeness and caring; it is easy to see they both have a lot of love for each other.
One of the things that have probably helped to bring these siblings close together is the separation of their parents Joyce and Lonnie. Joyce has been left to bring up her boys pretty much on her own as Lonnie has moved away from town and basically washed his hands of family responsibilities.
You get a sense that one of the defining factors in the breakdown of that relationship has a bit to do with the mental health of Joyce. Winona Ryder imbues Joyce with a manic, unhinged presence. This is a woman on the edge; who seems to be one step away from becoming a nervous wreck. Now Will's disappearance does have a lot to do with this opinion but you can see that this event has just clicked her mental anxieties up another gear.
What is refreshing is that Joyce recognises that she is a little crazy and keeps telling the people around her that she knows she sounds like she is losing her grip on reality. Her reactions you feel would be normal for any parent feeling frantic when their child goes missing.
Through all this she does still maintain some semblance of self-preservation; none more evident than when she first gets an inkling that something from beyond our realm could be involved in the mystery. Her first instinct is to run which shows that below the surface she is still quite a sensible person.
This encounter actually triggers some calmness in her as she starts to realise she isn't clinging to some crazy notion of where Will has gone. Joyce starts to settle down from this moment and her behaviour becomes more rational once someone else also believes that for all her crazy antics; she might actually be correct in her convictions.
Even at her most vulnerable moments though, Joyce is still able to show the inner strength that she has gained from being an independent parent. I love it when she stands up to Lonnie who has come waltzing back in during this crisis and tries to throw his weight around. During this confrontation you can see Joyce for the loving, caring mother she is. Lonnie is well and truly put in his place as Joyce shows just how well she knows her children and clearly points out that Lonnie doesn't have a clue about either boy.
All the way through Joyce has this belief that she will find Will alive and there are only a couple of moments where she seems to waver in this opinion. At one stage during her investigation with Hopper she realises that it could take years to uncover the truth. It is here that you first see her convictions falter a little and near the end of the series we see this happen again.
It is a credit to Winona Ryder's performance that she is able to wring all these different emotions and nuance out of her role. The arc her character goes on from the start to the finish is probably the biggest out of all the cast; with the possible exception of Eleven who I don't want to discuss too deeply as she is best left to be discovered as the show unfolds. It was only on my second viewing that I got a true sense of just how far she had come during the season.
I mentioned Jim Hopper teaming up with Joyce to investigate Will's disappearance. It is probably more accurate to say that at first Hopper is reluctant to involve Joyce and wants to conduct the search solely with his fellow officers. Circumstances soon change his opinion as he starts to believe that the wild theory Joyce has might be true.
When we first see Hopper you get the impression that he is a man about town who likes to drink and mix with the ladies. There is no sense that this is an officer who takes his job seriously; instead you immediately think that this is a small town cop who is bored with the monotony of all that being a small town cop entails.
These reservations are soon dispelled as it is quickly established that Hopper is a more than capable policeman. He is a no nonsense guy too; willing to step outside of the law if it is going to help him get to the bottom of the case.
Hopper has his own history compelling him to solve this crime as he too knows what it is like to lose a child. This plays a big part in his motivation and also plays into the overall story. There is also a sense, although not explicit, that there is possibly a bit of history between Hopper and Joyce of a romantic nature.
Both of these are issues which he hasn't fully come to terms with or is willing to address; particularly what happened to his child and how that affected his life. It makes the anguish he feels later on when he is in the morgue all the more poignant as you can tell what emotional turmoil he must be experiencing.
There are also some great moments of humour from Hopper. As mentioned his no nonsense approach creates a few giggles but my favourite has to be his reaction when he first goes to see Joyce knowing she is onto something and he walks into the house and sees all the Christmas lights. If they made a television series focussing just on Jim Hopper's case files I would definitely watch it because he is such a badass.
Central to the plot and the family who are closest to the Byers are the Wheeler family; consisting of eldest child Nancy, her brother Mike, baby Holly and their mother Karen....and some guy who plays the dad but is barely heard from. Actually Ted Wheeler is pretty amusing; he gives off the impression of one of those fathers who just wants to go to work, have a beer and come home to his wife and 2.5 children.
It is in Mike's basement where the four boys; Will, Mike, Lucas and Dustin, spend their free time playing Dungeons & Dragons and discussing Star Wars and all those other things that twelve year old boys loved to do back in 1983. They are like The Four Musketeers; inseparable; dependant on one another and completely loyal.
Mike is the main instigator in getting Lucas and Dustin to go along with him as he is determined to find out what has transpired with Will. After coming across Eleven in the woods they soon realise that she might be a key factor in helping them locate Will and accept her into the fold.
The budding relationship between Mike and 'El' is very cute to watch and thankfully handled in a manner appropriate to the age of the characters. The way both Dustin and Lucas acknowledge having a strange girl in the group is also written realistically; one thinks it's cool, the other not so much. You can see by the way each of them reacts to whom and what El is; that these boys are all comfortable with expressing their opinion to each other without cause for concern or ridicule.
One of the major strengths of the show is just how well these kids all interact with each other. The camaraderie and bond that they share is onscreen for you to see. More important than the friendships they share is that they each act like children. The logical conclusions they come to are the sort of leaps that kids would come too. One example is how Mike comes up with a way for El to introduce herself to his parents and you can see how he came up with the idea because it would be normal for a child to think this way. The other strong point is that none of these child actors are annoying; there isn't one written simply to be comic relief and neither of them makes you cringe with their behaviour.
Now getting back to the other two Wheeler's who play a role in the show let me focus for a moment on how much I enjoyed Karen. Cara Buono, who is a veteran of television, is wonderful in a small role. Normally such a character would be dismissing of her children or not as sympathetic to their needs. Karen is the complete opposite. She tries to connect with Nancy when she can tell something is bothering her; she provides solace to Mike when he needs it and overall I was so impressed with what Buono did with the part and how original this characters perspective felt.
Nancy is our connective tissue to Jonathan. She is trying to start a relationship with Steve Harrington who seems to be one of the popular kids at school and Nancy isn't in that category. There is a mutual attraction and romance soon blossoms. Opinions vary greatly when it comes to Steve and your view of him will probably change from one episode to the next as it did with me. Overall I did end up liking him greatly; he might be a bit of a douche to begin with but he did redeem himself come the series finale.
Once again the writers do something to reinvigorate what could have become a stereotype. Steve's attitude towards Nancy the day after his party is one example that takes you by surprise as you are expecting something completely different from him. His final gesture with Jonathan is another example of how this person can surprise you.
It is interesting how Nancy does seem to behave in a different manner around Steve and it is picked up on by both Jonathan and her best friend Barb. They can see that she isn't being her normal self and what person hasn't acted differently to gain the attentions of someone they like?
One relationship that is clear for all to see is the way both her and Mike have that sibling love/hate rivalry. As the older sibling she wants her space and neither is happy when Karen suggests they need to stay close together. This is amusingly brought up by their father later on when he laughs off the suggestion that Nancy is with her brother of her own volition.
The difference between her relationship with Mike and that of Jonathan and Will is shown in stark contrast when she proves she has no idea how to contact Mike but Jonathan does. In this moment you can see that she realises how much Jonathan cares for his brother and how neglectful she has been towards hers. This leads to a beautiful tender scene between Nancy and Mike later on when they both agree to tell each other the truth only to then immediately break that promise by both telling a lie. It is one of the best whimsical moments of the series.
Nancy approaches Jonathan with the evidence that brings him to the conclusion that perhaps his mum isn't as crazy as he thinks. The two team up to search for both Will and Barb who has also vanished by this stage. No one seems as concerned about Barb's whereabouts except for Nancy who doesn't believe the explanation regarding her friend's disappearance.
That attraction between Nancy and Jonathan I mentioned earlier is played upon further as the two of them start to look into events. Whereas Nancy appeared to be acting different around Steve; you get the sense that she is able to be herself around Jonathan. There was one exchange in particular that highlighted to me that these two are more in synch; when we see that Nancy has swapped her baseball bat for Jonathan's handgun. No dialogue was needed, they each realised which weapon suited them most and got on with it. In another show there would have been a funny quip to accompany this change over; but the writers trust the audience enough to pick up on what is taking place between these two teens.
It would be remiss of me to talk about all these characters without mentioning two of the most important and those are our villains. Matthew Modine plays Dr Martin Brenner the man in charge of the government agents based in the Hawkins laboratory who are on the trail of Eleven. For large portions of the show Brenner doesn't say much and there are plenty of scenes where he doesn't utter a single word. This actually makes him more menacing as you don't know what he is thinking but you can tell that his motives are sinister by nature. I don't think we have actually seen his true motivation either because he is still a bit of an enigma. Does he view himself as a father figure to Eleven as she refers to him as Papa; or does he have cruel intentions? Something I think we will discover more of during season two.
The children come up with the nickname of the Demogorgon when referring to the mysterious entity they believe is responsible for taking Will. This is a denizen from their games of Dungeons & Dragons and is the beast that causes fear in Will when we first see them playing this game. It is only natural that they think of this creature as the thing that has taken Will. In reality it is a very clever use of the name as the Demogorgon is associated with the underworld. They refer to its dwelling as The Vale of Shadows which again ties in to the Dungeons & Dragons terminology. Eventually the Upside-Down will become a part of the narrative which confirms the kids were onto something with all these theories.
Part of the inspiration behind the Demogorgon's design I feel must have been the Slender Man; especially when viewed in shadow which it often is. It also seems to rely on certain senses; I don't think it is capable of hearing judging from the movements it makes. This is all very reminiscent of the creature from Alien.
So we have established all the main players and the three groups of investigators: the children; Joyce and Hopper; and Jonathan and Nancy. Each of these groups I felt had their own defined genre when it came to the approach the filmmakers took in representing their search for Will. The three boys and El seemed to be a kid's adventure similar in nature to Stand By Me or The Goonies. Joyce and Hopper definitely had more of the Sci-Fi element to their enquiries; whereas Jonathan and Nancy instilled more of the Horror aspect of the show. These components are wound together in such a tightly written narrative that neither one feels out of place.
All three of these genres are steeped in 80's nostalgia and the show itself revels in celebrating the early parts of this decade and all of the pop culture related to the era. There are posters for Evil Dead and The Thing adorning various walls; both films the creators are clearly influenced by.
One character asks "Do you guys read any Stephen King" and this is after we have seen a guard reading Cujo. These are nice little nods to the heroes of the Duffer Brothers. Likewise the score has a very strong connection to the sounds of John Carpenter; or Goblin who appear on a lot of Dario Argento's film scores.
Steven Spielberg's ET has a huge influence; the Byers family being a broken home is a standard Spielberg trope. The G-Men are also very reminiscent of the ones from ET; both when viewed out in the open and suited up in the Hawkins laboratory. There is even a touching scene where Eleven has to go out in disguise which reminds you of ET going out for Halloween. I don't want to dwell on all of the similarities or homages that are referenced; this excellent video I found online does a pretty comprehensive job of pointing out a lot of them:
It is fair to say that the Duffer Brothers have created this show with a lot of respect and admiration to what has gone beforehand. They aren't ripping off any of these films or books but have made their own series drawing on the best methods and ideas from these past triumphs. The things they admired have added to the inspiration behind creating something that feels familiar and yet new all at the same time.
The show is not without its stereotyped characters either and they do play upon a lot of tropes that appeared in many of the media that inspired the creators. What they do with these though is use them to their advantage. It is rare that the stereotypes feel out of place; they are there for a purpose to help propel the story.
It is a fine line to play as it would have been very easy to fall into parody but the writing is so good that nothing is wasted and everything is so well thought out. One fine example is when Barb parks her car away from Steve's house when she and Nancy are attending his party. It feels odd at the time and you think it is a misstep; but later on it comes back in and helps the story avoid a plot hole.
It is this attention to detail that really makes the writing stand out. I get the feeling that the original idea the Duffer Brothers had was allowed to gestate until they had all their ducks in a row before deciding to go ahead with filming. I can only commend them for this as it certainly is the shows biggest strength.
I touched briefly on the music and I have to say that I love the score and song choices throughout the whole series. The electronic synthesizer sounds are so reminiscent of the 80's and are perfect for the setting. Add to this the actual songs that are used fit the scenes they are chosen for so well. Take Waiting for a Girl Like You for one of Barb's scenes as an example; or Peter Gabriel's haunting version of Heroes as the police search the quarry. This in particular is one of the best filmed scenes from the series overall and has such a gut-punching impact that you will be wiping the tears from your eyes.
There are a lot of movie making tricks on display. Flashbacks are used and they have a real purpose to the story; such as when Will is shown drawing pictures and discussing different abilities. The flashbacks like these do aid the narrative and aren't here just to help establish a person's history. There are great transition shots, often triggered by something that is happening to Eleven; a coke can on television moves us to the Hawkins lab and her previous experience with a can of soft drink. In the same vein she hides in a wardrobe and it morphs into a scene of her in a similar enclosed space. Once again we are seeing just how well put together the overall story has been planned and I reiterate nothing that you see on screen is wasted; it all has meaning.
As well as the fancy techniques there are some quality character moments that get to the emotional core of the person. Eleven having a real adolescent experience and seeing herself as a pretty girl for the first time is truly a lump in the throat occasion. It is also touching when Dustin is discussing his friendship with Mike and the way he reacts to what he is hearing is just lovely. Probably the one set piece that really got to me was between Joyce and El and it was simply a hug from a parent who recognises that a child needs comforting. It made me realise it was probably the only moment of genuine tenderness that Eleven has experienced so far in her life.
The show might be a mystery solving crime story about a missing boy and it might have monsters, secret government organisations and strange realms; but more than anything else it is a story with a lot of heart and one that shows the love shared between friends and family. For my way of thinking this came shining through and was one of the main reason I fell in love with this debut series.
The Case Against:
My issues are mere annoyances more than glaring problems; after all I have stated how well I thought the series was scripted so I would be really surprised to have taken umbrage with the story. One of the things that I can see wouldn't be to everyone's taste is the 80's setting. The 80's is a decade often derided for bad fashion and the height of cheesiness and it might grate on some people.
There seems to be a lot of people split down the middle in their evaluation of Joyce, in particular Winona Ryder's performance. I will admit that at first she does come off as a bit too hyper and my first impression was that I don't want to listen to her in hysterics for eight episodes. Thankfully as I have said she does calm down and gives a more balanced performance but I can see how she would have put a lot of people off from the way she acts when we first meet her.
I had more of an issue with her ex-husband Lonnie than with Joyce. I know Lonnie isn't a major character so they didn't need to develop him too much. He let me down the more screen time he received. At first I thought he was going to be the Dad who didn't really want to leave but no, he turned out to be the douchebag everyone expects him to be. It would have been great if they could have worked on that small amount of nuance that was hinted at just a little bit more.
Now I love Hopper but I am afraid out of everyone he more than all the others did things that affected my goodwill towards him. The first thing and it is only a minor thing that I hate every time I see it onscreen, is when he leaves his home and fails to switch off the television! It is one of my pet peeves and it always, without fail, makes me think the person doesn't care about their electricity bills.
One of the very few times I thought the writers made an error was when Hopper tells one of his associates his phone is out of order, only to proceed later on to call his ex-wife. It might have been to keep his partner out of his home, but that wasn't explicit. I know he is a badass but I also have a hard time believing that he could have taken out three operatives single handed without making enough noise to alert the others before he got to them. These are petty nit-picks I know.
There are larger parts of Hopper's arc that I had further issues with. Hopper losing his daughter is probably the worst of all the tropes the writers used. I didn't feel the script needed it. His backstory of being a big city cop now working in a small town was sufficient enough. They could have played on his unconcerned, devil may care attitude. He feels this way because nothing ever happens in Hawkins that compares to his time living in the city.
I know that his loss gives him the motivation to want to find Will alive because he can understand what Joyce is going through but his role as a police officer and having the chance to do something with meaning should have been all the reason he needed. This brings me to the Hopper flashbacks that occur in the final episode. While I can appreciate their inclusion because of what they are telling us; I thought they only interrupted the flow of the episode which took away from the overall impact of the finale.
Some of his choices at the end of the show are also baffling and seem out of character. Without trying to spoil things I had a hard time reconciling some of his decisions when compared to the behaviour we had previously seen him display. I can only put this down to Hopper feeling he had no other choice if he was to achieve his goal. There is an indication that this will be addressed in season two and I hope so.
Out of all our main characters the only other ones that caused some eye rolls were the triumvirate of Nancy, Jonathan and Steve. It was more so with Nancy and Jonathan and most of my problems happen in episode five. There were two key points that annoyed me and both are because we see them far too often in horror.
The first was Nancy and Jonathan separating from one another as they follow a bloody trail in search of the Demogorgon. The minute they do; you just know one of them is going to come a cropper. This action was redeemed in the following episode when Dustin asks Mike and Lucas if they remember what happened in 'The Bloodstone Pass' when they separated; which reflects their closer camaraderie and hints nicely at the bloody trail. So I forgave this faux pas on reflection.
But I could not forgive Nancy for stepping on a twig when trying to be sneaky. Of all the worst horror tropes included in this setup; this one by far made me groan at the TV screen. Admittedly it left the episode on a cool cliff-hanger but come on, don't resort to common conventions guys!
My other gripes are to do with this trio's interaction with the Demogorgon itself. There is a huge leap of logic from Nancy when she concludes that blood attracts the Demogorgon. I might have missed it, but I can't remember a moment when this became apparent to anyone. If I did miss it then I apologise and will stand corrected.
Steve freaks out the first time he sees the Demogorgon and I appreciated his reaction; it seemed natural. However he quickly regains his composure and rushes to the rescue. Now if that was me I don't think I could have recovered that quickly and come to the aid of someone who I was recently in conflict with and a girlfriend who Steve thinks might not be as into him, as he is into her. It would have been hilarious if he just kept running and left them to it!
I feel I have to mention this as it bugged me the whole series and I hope it doesn't offend anyone; but will the catering department please make sure that Natalia Dyer eats a sandwich or something next season. I seriously felt concerned for her health; there is no meat on her at all.
There are a couple of things I want to bring up about some of the minor characters. I know there is a lot of love for Barb and I really hope that they resolve more of her story in season two. It perturbed me how the only person who seemed bothered about her disappearance was Nancy. There was hardly any investigation into Barb's disappearance. In a small town people should know that she just wouldn't up and leave and this sort of behaviour is out of the ordinary for her. I would have expected there to be more of a connection made between Will and Barb from the police. Even though Hopper isn't as present at the station at this point; at the very least Powell seems capable of these logical connections; Callahan on the other hand maybe not.
I will be honest and say that I hated Callahan and it annoyed me immensely that they called him Callahan too. He is such a douche. He doesn't seem smart enough to be a cop; he is so stereotypical of the country hick officer. Most of all he is so insensitive nearly every time he speaks. Callahan offends Nancy when discussing Barb; he hits a nerve with Hopper when he talks about Joyce but worst of all is his attitude at Benny's.
It troubled me greatly what takes place with Benny; I didn't think there was any need for this course of action from the government agents at the time. What do they stand to gain; all they are doing is drawing more attention from the local constabulary. Callahan's attitude is far too flippant when he makes comments to Hopper and I liked how Hopper's response kind of put Callahan in his place. I could well imagine Callahan being the sort of person who enjoyed peeling the wings off of flies when he was a child!
Moving from one person who doesn't seem too bright to one who is; I do very much like Mr Clark. He is an awfully smart teacher and is far too well read for someone teaching middle school. His interactions with the boys is nice but it is very convenient how he always has a solution to their problems. Clark's character helps to move the story along as he is often used to provide an explanation to help answer some part of the plot the viewer might have questions about.
I have said how much I admire Cara Buono's performance as Karen Wheeler but come on; surely she must visit the basement on occasion. How can Mike get away with hiding Eleven down there without his mum needing to go get something from downstairs?
I save my last criticism for the Demogorgon and the nods to Aliens afforded it. In Aliens we see victims trapped in a nest and when we get a glimpse late on of the Demogorgon's lair we see a similar situation. I felt this came out of leftfield and was a little bit shoehorned in for my liking. There is no hint as to why the Demogorgon acts the way it does so I am hoping that this is all part of the set up for season two. Until then I will reserve judgement on this final twist in the tale.
Verdict:
If only I was twelve years old and friends with these kids. I too could then battle Demogorgon's in the Upside-Down. Instead I will have to console myself with endless re-watches of this marvellous show.
We decide what artistic endeavour passed approval to earn the Scorcher label from the past seven days & what also had the dishonour of being that week's Torture...
Both of the entries on trial this week have a horror element to them. While one is an old favourite that is regrettably starting to sour; the other is a recently discovered realm of fantasy that has been giving me much pleasure. I live in hope that our entrant in the Torture category can be redeemed but I have some reservations.
The Scorcher
I recently included The Uncanny Valley: Tales from a Lost Town in my Scorchers of 2016 as it was one of the books I thoroughly enjoyed last year. Well I can safely say that the follow up Darkness in the Valley is just as entertaining. It follows the same format where the story unfolds from the diary entries of different residents of the valley. Where it does differ is that this covers one event; whereas Uncanny Valley was made up of anecdotes of different goings on in this strange town.
The circumstances all take place over a few months in 1909 as a mining corporation want to take over the town to get to the rich minerals they believe are present in the area. Dark forces are at work and the residents slowly come to realise they must take action or risk losing everything they care for; including potentially their lives.
Some of the characters return from Uncanny Valley while others are newly introduced. While there are a lot of people to keep track of as the narration flips from one to another; you still get a decent amount of character development in the majority of cases. So when things take a turn for the worse for some you still care what is happening to them.
This material and setting would be ripe for a television or film adaptation. I could see someone like David Lynch taking this to some dark places or alternatively Tim Burton revelling in the fantasy and horror components of it all.
Gregory Miller does an excellent job once again of blending the fantastical element with reality. Things do get seriously creepy at times and you do get a good sense of dread and suspense as the tale unfolds. He has set this out as a three part act and while the middle section does feel a little too overlong; the final act pays off handsomely as it rushes to the inevitable conclusion.
I will look forward hopefully to a third visit to this strange and wonderful location.
The Torture
Speaking of entries in my 2016 Scorcher or Torture list; here is one who made it into the latter category. I have been a big fan of The Walking Dead since the very first season aired but just lately have found my devotion waning greatly.
It isn't because they have deviated so far from the comics that it all feels alien, if anything they do follow the comics rather faithfully in general. I think part of the problem is the character development as the main cast seem to have stagnated or are just becoming too repetitive by nature. However those are different issues to why episode 10 of season 7: New Best Friends has been sent to the torture chamber this week.
One thing that TWD has done is try to ground itself in a realistic setting; as much as you can when the world has been overcome by a zombie apocalypse. By sticking with the same storylines as the comics though this is where the show is starting to fail. Some of the elements that work well in comic format are not transferring over as well to the television screen.
Don't get me wrong I love Ezekiel in both formats but The Kingdom seems too caught up in the realm of fantasy for the realism they are striving for. The Saviors likewise also come across as too one note; surely there has to be some members amongst them with a shred of compassion or human decency. Instead they are all painted as comic book villains so that when we do finally get to see them get their comeuppance we won't feel sorrow for any of them.
Those are just two of my objections. My main complaint was with the Dumpster Dwellers as I shall nickname them until we get an official moniker. What the hell is going on with this group? So let me get this straight; the apocalypse happened a little over two years ago in TWD's timeline. During those couple of years the speech patterns of the Dwellers has regressed to some form of broken English? I can understand the group using coded terms and sign language amongst themselves but when Jadis the leader is conversing with Rick she still keeps up the same cadence and patter. I questioned whether she was completely sane.
Every one of the Dumpster mob must have looted the same group of shops that only cater to Goth's because every single one of them was wearing black or grey or some other sombre tone. Colour does not appear to be an option if you want to join this gang. The only place you are allowed some colouring though is in your hair; especially if you are the leader of this motley crew. Jadis hasn't got time to hunt for supplies; she is too busy getting her ends done at the local salon!
At first I was thinking the Dumpster Dwellers have been based on some Mad Max style apocalyptic band of warriors; they definitely gave off that sort of vibe. Or my second thought was that maybe they are a type of death cult. However I re-evaluated that opinion once Jadis threw Rick into the fighting pit against what I can only describe as a Resident Evil style of monster; the comically named Winslow.
Firstly this group do not look like they could be bothered to capture a zombie, let alone then festoon said zombie's body with all manner of spiky implements. And secondly he doesn't resemble a zombie; he looks more demonic and less like a former human. Winslow's makeup is good for a horror creature but he fails as a decomposing body that has been abused by his captors. His ribs don't look like they belonged to a person, he has claws and sharper than normal teeth; overall he appears otherworldly and that is a problem for the universe they have built here. Resident Evil must have been an inspiration for this whole segment. Not only would Winslow feel at home in that environment but Jadis herself looks like she could fill in for Milla Jovovich as Alice.
To top off the surreal experience of seeing this Mad Max/Resident Evil hybrid; we then see yet more bizarre attitude from Rosita who has fast moved to the top of my list of characters I would like to get eaten or beaten next. I want someone to slap some sense into her so badly and scream at her to stop acting like a spoilt teenager. Barring that then let Negan swing away.
The one saving grace for the episode was Father Gabriel. I mentioned the characters seem to have come to a standstill in their overall development; well the opposite is true of Gabriel. He out of everyone has gone on a massive arc of redemption since his introduction. I only wish that the writers would take as much care with the remainder of the group, then my investment in the show might be restored.
Where we look at one Scorching piece of artwork that generates excitement for what it is advertising.
Then on the flipside we also have a Torturous piece that makes you wonder how it ever got approval to promote the product...
With seven studio albums to their name Oasis have enough covers to choose from. They certainly had swagger and attitude in abundance. Does the charisma that oozes out of the Gallagher brothers come to the fore on their record sleeves? Let us have a look.
The Scorcher
The debut Definitely Maybe propelled them to stardom and for me; it remains their most iconic cover that has the most impact. I love the symmetry of this picture and the relaxed nature of all the band members. It gives off an aura of casualness; like this would be a regular Sunday afternoon for these boys.
The picture is littered with little references to heroes and influences of the band members. They are a nice little touch and none seem out of place in this modern looking lounge room. The house actually belonged to Paul Arthurs.
The cover also reflects the mood of the music on the album; one of nonchalant coolness as if nothing fazes these guys. Little wonder that the image reflects the cockiness of the individuals; particularly the Gallagher brothers.
The Torture
What on earth is this mess actually meant to be? Is it a representation of the conflict taking place in each person's soul? Whatever the message is; it is one hell of a horrible collage. It looks like the sort of thing someone on drugs would think is an awesome idea. Hmmm, might be onto something there...
We decide what artistic endeavour passed approval to earn the Scorcher label from the past seven days & what also had the dishonour of being that week's Torture...
Welcome to the start of 2017's Witch Hunts. This last week I took great pleasure in raiding along the English coastline; but then ruined it by visiting a small pocket of London. Read on to find out more.
The Scorcher
The second half of season 4 of Vikings recently concluded so I went on a typical binge watch so I would be able to pass judgement on this bunch of heathens. It might not be the most historically accurate of shows but my word is it entertaining.
When I first decided to start watching Vikings I was hesitant because I was unsure how they would keep such a story interesting. The characters are based on Viking legends; made up of ones that we know existed and ones where we are not so convinced about their overall legitimacy. So the basis is there for a good story.
However these legendary warriors all existed at different times throughout Viking lore so how do they accomplish a historical telling of these tales and still manage to educate about their historical significance? Well the History Channel has taken the novel approach of condensing the actions of these Norse heroes into a much smaller timescale so that they can all interact with one another. You still get a sense of the impact each had in their culture and the wider world at large.
It works surprisingly well. The historical events are depicted with the filmmakers taking similar liberties with accuracy that you see in many "based on a true story" movies that are released.
Where the show does excel in keeping up interest levels; is in the ability to not follow normal conventions. You can be watching a scene and think you know exactly what is going to take place and the complete opposite can happen. This is totally refreshing and in many cases mimics the actual events from the Norse saga of the time. Season 4, more than all that have come before it, certainly takes these curveballs to the next level of surprise.
I will be very keen to see how season 5 develops from here and whether it can maintain the momentum.
The Torture
Have you ever felt like slashing your wrists after watching a particularly depressing film? If you answered no then this one might put you in that frame of mind. Okay so it isn't all doom and gloom but it's a pretty bloody dismal movie. 100 Streets focusses on three different stories with no connective tissue joining them up; or what little there is, is very tenuous at best. The title refers to the characters of the storylines all living within one hundred streets of each other so there you go.
This feels like three stories that weren't fully developed being cobbled together to form one film. The only one with any substance that I really wanted to see more of involved George the taxi driver as his had the makings of something intriguing. His tale however was the one we saw the least of.
Idris Elba and Gemma Arterton are recognisable names so it is only fitting that they get the most screen time. Their story is one of the most relatable too as it involves a marriage breakup. It doesn't really go anywhere though and by the end you don't really know if either of them is any better off than when we were first introduced to them.
Franz Drameh's Kingsley is one of the most commonly used redemption stories; where a young black man is on the wrong side of the tracks and realises the error of his ways. You can tell instantly when Ken Stott's Terrence starts interacting with Kingsley that it won't be all sunshine and rainbows. It holds no surprises in the least to see how this one ends up.
I was ready to torch the whole lot of them when it ended on a typical Hollywood style high note after watching an hour and a half of complete drabness beforehand. This is not a film to watch for the suicidal!
The Witch Trial:
Here it is my trial for both the good and the evil of 2016. Bear in mind that the items appearing in the dock below may or may not be the best of the last twelve months but I feel are deserving of bringing to your attention. Alternatively some of the items are not the worst either but I feel the need to mention them as a warning to steer clear. So please read through case by case and form your own opinion.
Warning there may be SPOILERS below...
The Scorchers
As is my custom you will find reports from film, television, music & books below. I have tried to cover different genres; whether that be an amusing family drama to a war thriller; or an electronic album to a mostly guitar based record. I have tried to keep each category as broad as I can to give you an eclectic mix of entertainment. Films
What a year for good films. I have chosen three that stood out for different reasons. There were so many others that I could highlight too. Both Deadpool and Captain America: Civil War were terrific additions to the ever expanding superhero genre, especially Deadpool with its refreshing R rated approach. Hell or High Water was one of those movies where you don't know if you should be rooting for the good guys or the bad guys. I love films such as this where you can debate afterwards who you wanted to see victorious in the end. Unusually for me I also found more than a couple of comedies tickled my fancy. Mascots continued Christopher Guest's run of mockumentaries without hitting the same heights as Best In Show; it was still amusing. Then there was Florence Foster Jenkins with top notch performances from all the main cast and Simon Helberg in particular. I do also have to mention The Witch; a film that should have everything against it: the language, the setting, the lighting, the pacing, and the lack of a star. Despite all of these points that normally would work against a film attaining an audience; The Witch did gain followers and those lucky enough to see it have seen what will go on to be considered a modern classic.
"Hunt for the Wilderpeople"
This was the most surprisingly entertaining film for 2016 in my opinion. This is a film that the whole family can enjoy. The most unlikely but likeable New Zealand rogue, Uncle Hector unwittingly has to look out for delinquent Ricky who has been placed in his care. What happens next is an adventure of self-discovery and bonding that really hits all the right notes. There is pathos as well as humour as Taika Waititi continues his winning streak as director.
"Eye In The Sky"
Generally speaking films relating to war zones or terrorist activity rely on set action pieces to get the adrenaline racing. Eye In The Sky eschews those conventions to bring us a taut thriller about a battle of wits between the higher echelons of command and a drone pilot. Their actions will have dire consequences one way or another and so you get both perspectives of the argument. It makes for fascinating, edge of the seat viewing as they go back and forth deciding will they or wont they push that button. By the end of it you feel like you have been a part of the decision making process and that you too have either won or lost.
"Green Room"
I guess you could also class Green Room as a thriller too. This one however is in a completely different vein to the previous film. Green Room is definitely more of your horror type thriller. A band perform to a bunch of neo-Nazis and then are witness to a crime that then threatens their own lives. One of Anton Yelchin's final appearances and he is terrific as one of the protagonists trying to escape the clutches of Patrick Stewart's menacing thugs and boy oh boy does Mr Stewart make an excellent villain. My pulse was racing throughout which is a good sign that a film is doing something right.
Television
Like my 2015 list for television I decided to focus on individual episodes that grabbed my attention rather than whole shows. That isn't to say that there weren't some stand out series that I started watching; for example Stranger Things which I promise will be entering into our courthouse hopefully in the not too distant future. Besides that there was also Preacher which was immense fun. I also liked the intrigue of The Night Manager but the music annoyed me a great deal and I also hated the romantic subplot in that mini-series. To find out the episodes that I loved the most on TV read on...
Westworld, Season 1, Episode 10: "The Bicameral Mind"
Rarely am I as bamboozled by a shows plot as much as I was watching Westworld. It took me until episode nine to start to put the major pieces together. There are many who worked things out a lot earlier than I; and believe me I feel they should be recruited to the Inquisition in my place; it was a failing in my duty! What I loved about the season's concluding episode was that it tidied up all these plot threads and gave answers to nearly every question raised throughout the series. It was the perfect ending to the show and if there were no more seasons filmed then this also was a satisfying way to end as a ten episode mini-series.
Ash vs Evil Dead, Series 1, Episode 1: "El Jefe"
I know this episode was released in 2015 but I actually waited until the whole series was finished before commencing to watch it; therefore it qualifies by my reckoning. I will admit that I had my reservations how well the much beloved Evil Dead story would transfer over to the small screen. Would the humour still be prevalent? Would the Deadite's look and feel the same? Would Bruce Campbell still be able to imbue Ash with the same manic energy? Thankfully all my concerns were answered with an unequivocal "Yes" from the first episode onwards and I had a blast with this show.
Game of Thrones, Season 6, Episode 9: "Battle of the Bastards"
Was this the best season of Game of Thrones so far? That is the question I kept asking myself as there were possibly three episodes that I considered for inclusion here (the two others being 'The Door' and 'The Winds of Winter'). However I had to plump for the resolution of Jon Snow's story arc, much like last year's inclusion in this section. For so long we have been waiting for someone to stand up to Ramsay Bolton and we get to see it in all its bloody glory in this episode. The battle scenes are ferocious and scary. The way some of the battle is filmed; in such close ups with the focus on one character, really messes with your senses and you get to feel how disorientating the madness of slaughter would be. Game of Thrones once again proving its magnificence.
Music
I will admit that I have been a bit lapse with my listening habits for 2016. I haven't listened to nearly enough music as I would normally like to but in saying that I have heard some quality output. Some of my favourite material has been from musicians coming back from long absences such as Suede and The Avalanches who I mentioned in one of my Weekly Witch Hunts. These are three other artists whose work last year I deeply admired.
"Simple Forms" by The Naked and Famous
This is the third album from this New Zealand band (New Zealand seems to be getting all the love). They don't stray too far from their formula and when the songs you produce consistently make the listener want to get up and dance as much as theirs; then why would you? It is the perfect type of record to throw on at a party and get people moving. Simple form indeed.
"Lemonade" by Beyoncé
There aren't many artists in the world with the same level of freedom to create such a bold record as Beyoncé. She has simultaneously made a concept album and a cathartic album and it works so well. Beyoncé has broadened her horizons and included different styles to what you would normally expect to come from her and the choices she has made for her collaborators are inspired. She is fully deserving of all the accolades coming her way for this brave endeavour.
"Love and Hate" by Michael Kiwanuka
This is an artist that only came to my attention late in the year and it may be because he is fresh in my mind that he has made it into my Scorchers. I love a good guitar based artist that can blend different tempos on the one album and Kiwanuka is more than capable of doing just that. This is one of those records that you can put on and the songs feel instantly recognisable. The songs tend to stick in your mind immediately. One gem of an album I am pleased to have discovered, albeit late in the game.
Books
Once again I have included in this category books which weren't published in 2016 but ones which I read during this calendar year. These are books that I had a lot of fun with that I think are deserving of a wider audience.
"The Uncanny Valley: Tales from a Lost Town" by Gregory Miller
This is a book of 33 short stories all interlinked by a radio station who asked for submissions of tales residents of Lost Town either experienced themselves or heard about over time. There are a mix of different stories with plenty of creepiness, suspense and horror throughout. Scattered amongst these tales are the occasional illustration relating to the particular story being told which adds to the fairy tale aspect. Overall this book is a great way to end the night with a spooky tale or two before you turn out the lights.
"Ghost in the Canteen" by Jen Rasmussen
A ghost hunter who traps the spirits she captures in a drinking canteen but then has the tables turned on her by a particularly tricky spook. This peaked my interest and I was not disappointed one bit. The book has excellent characters with plenty of backstory to make you want to learn more about them. It contains enough scares and surprises to keep you turning page after page. I found myself swept up in this adventure and really cared for the hero. There was enough interest for me to want to check out the continuing adventures of Lydia Trinket.
"Jet" by Russell Blake
Jet is a former Mossad agent in hiding whose false identity has been discovered and is now marked for death. Why, well that is what she intends to find out. This is a fast paced espionage thriller that jumps across countries in the best traditions of James Bond. The story is filled with everything you want to see in a spy novel with a hero who has the skills and know how to succeed. It is only the beginning too as Jet's adventures continue in a further eleven books! Now I haven't read any of the others so I can't comment on their quality but I fully enjoyed this opening salvo and would not be averse to another helping.
The Tortures
Okay so once again I have put myself through many, many torturous moments in the hope of finding some hidden gems. In some cases I should bow down to the words of wisdom of critics/inquisitors far more qualified than I and avoided some of this drivel, but I am a sucker for punishment. So here is my list of self-flagellation, you may or may not agree with some of my selections.
Films
Unsurprisingly there was a dearth of good quality comedy. Zoolander 2 and Grimsby are just two of the atrocities I had the displeasure of viewing. I found Grimsby to be insulting and I was ashamed for everyone involved in the project. The Girl on the Train was a disappointment. In the book I quickly worked out what was going on, even still it did not impact my overall enjoyment. The film gives it away just as quickly but doesn't have the same impetus to maintain your interest once you have it worked out. Another film to get on my nerves was, well, Nerve. I think it didn't strike a chord with me because I am not a big fan of social media. Here though are the ones that stood out as particularly irksome fodder.
"Equals"
Ever wondered what a really crappy version of Romeo & Juliet would look like if it was set in the future and had no soul or emotional content whatsoever? If your answer is yes then this is the film for you. In this dystopian future no one is allowed to fall in love or feel any emotional connection to another person at all; society has become the equivalent of a bunch of human automatons. After watching this drab, bland, boring mess you will feel like one too.
"Nina"
Making a move about Nina Simone must be a daunting prospect with all that musical history as well as her civil rights activities and not forgetting her failed marriages, addictions and struggles with mental illness. Nina fails to make any one of these aspects of her life interesting or entertaining in any way shape or form. There is no need to go into the controversy in the casting of Zoe Saldana; I think she does an admirable job all things considered. When your script and idea for telling this biopic is as bad as this then the blame should belong to the filmmakers. Little wonder that it took three years to see the light of day. Nina Simone covered the song "I Shall Be Released", I only wish that this film had remained not so.
"The Boy"
I will begin by saying that this is not a terrible film; it certainly has its creepy moments. The reason for its inclusion is because the minute Greta is asked to look after a porcelain doll instead of a human being she should have turned around and said "Fuck. That. Shit." packed her bags and walked away. End of story. The premise is just too ridiculous to contemplate. Nobody being offered the job of becoming a nanny to a doll would take it seriously no matter what mental anguish they had been through. I just couldn't enjoy the film because the plot is that stupid.
Television
I was going to include Penny Dreadful in this list, simply due to depression I sunk into once I knew the show was coming to an end. But I thought that would be to spiteful for a show I have a lot of love for. I know some of these choices might be controversial but for me each show seems to have either run out of steam or developed some inconsistencies not in keeping with the other seasons. My issues all seem to be of a common thread for the most part.
"The Walking Dead Season 7"
Okay so we have only seen one half of season seven so far because AMC feel the need to have a mid-season break for no discernible reason and I might be pleasantly surprised by what's in store for part two. So far what I have seen has not inspired me and whereas in previous seasons I would look forward to each episode; I found that season seven was more a case of watch it when I can. I think the main problem is that the shows scope has become much larger now. The format they have often used of focussing an episode on one character or location hasn't worked as well this season because there are so many characters and settlements that need including. If they change the format to be more encompassing then it should help resolve some of my issues. It won't help how boring some of the people have become but at least it will be a start in the right direction.
"Hell on Wheels Season 5"
For five seasons we have waited to see the outcome of the bitter feud between Cullen Bohannon and The Swede. Instead of the culmination of this epic rivalry occurring in the last couple of episodes we get the resolution in the very first episode of the second half of season five; because again AMC love their mid-season breaks. For the remaining episodes Cullen has a far less interesting, far less intense tussle with the Chinese Yakuza boss Chang. That is a side story to the main focus which is the slow, meandering conclusion to the final tracks being laid on the railroad. Such a mediocre way to close a series that helped fill the time between waiting for the better shows to start up again
"Banshee Season 4"
Speaking of shows that helped fill in the time while waiting for the better ones to come back on the air. Banshee also falls into that category and much like Hell on Wheels the final season was a major letdown. The tonal shift from the first three seasons was so stark it felt like a completely different show altogether. Starting off the season with the death of a major character also had a negative impact in the same way as Hell on Wheels. The finale was just bland. In fact I should have just written for this entry: "see Hell on Wheels above".
Music
I hate to be disrespectful towards musicians. Where as an actor is beholden to the filmmakers around them, a musician stands more or less on their own. A producer can only work with the material the artist gives them and the artist already has decided more or less how each of their songs will sound. So with that in mind please feel free to tell me I am wrong to pick on these particular groups for these records.
"99₵" by Santigold
I will start by saying that I adore Santigold's first two records; Master of My Make-Believe is an album I can throw on anytime and it still feels fresh. 99₵ is a bit of a comedown and I think this is due to the concept behind the album. It appears Santigold has got caught up in trying to make a social statement instead of focussing on the music. Let's hope on the next album she returns to making the music the centrepiece rather than fixating on the message.
"PersonA" by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros
Is the fact that 'Edward Sharpe and' crossed out on the cover of this album an indication that they are shedding a part of their persona to go along with the departure of Jade Castrinos from the band? If so then it is a mistake. Part of the character that has so far defined this band, seems to be missing off the record. It just doesn't strike the same emotional chords within me as their previous output. I hope it is only a small blip as I dearly love this group.
"Everything You've Come To Expect" by The Last Shadow Puppets
Not every return from the musical wilderness was as successful in my eyes as The Avalanches; The Last Shadow Puppets being a prime example. It was eight years ago that they released their debut and sometimes a side project is best left at one great album. This return fails to capture that same feeling of nostalgia that The Age of the Understatement had in spades. I was hoping for more of the same and felt letdown. The problem is more with my own expectations than the actual end product from Messrs Turner & Kane.
Books
Like musicians I also don't like to pick on authors as they are trying to tell a story and without stories our life would become very boring indeed. However these two authors really got my goat up and I feel both deserve a kicking.
"Good Tidings" by Terri Reid
I like paranormal books and stories of people communing with spirits. What I don't like is being misled into reading a romance novel with a paranormal subplot which is what this turned out to be. Besides the ghost only being a minor part of the story the characters are not fleshed out in the slightest. The vast majority of the book is made up of conversations; rather than developing the plot or rounding out the characters. By skipping the text of 'he said, she said' I think I cut the reading time down by a couple of hours. It felt like I had read the script to a really bad school play about a girl who fancies a boy with ghosts in it.
"Patients I Will Never Forget" by Sally Willard Burbank
Occasionally I think what the hell and give a book a try that I normally wouldn't bother with. This was one such case and how I wish I hadn't! This "author" is such a stuck up, preaching, know-it-all snob who delights in belittling and degrading her patients. Worse than taking an instant dislike to miss Willard Burbank was the fact that she is completely unfunny. Not one (and I am not exaggerating) of her stories is amusing in any way shape or form. All I could do was thank my lucky stars that she is not my personal physician. If you are interested in a medical practitioner with a god complex who thinks she belongs on a pedestal then by all means this is the remedy for you. If however you are a normal person then you will find much better printed medicine to ease those visionary needs elsewhere.
