Update: Books and Film

Recently, I've made my way through some books and film (see title). I enjoyed all of them a lot, and they'd be nice additions to anyone's summer.

Katharine Hepburn: A Life in Pictures

This book was such a nice read. After having just finished the Finkler Question, I wanted to get some pictures and visuals in. I love big movie book anthologies that either summarize particular film eras or the life of a specific film star, and this one fit the bill. It also happened to be priced at a lovely $5 at my nearest Borders' Bargain-priced shelf. There book boasts a nice summary of Hepburn's life, huge picture spreads, and quotations peppered here and there.











The Finkler Question

I liked this book a lot, mostly because of the character Julian Treslove, who definitely spends a little too much time in his head and too little time with his feet on the ground. Jacobson really gets us in the character's head, and the result is pure joy for the reader. I liked the first half, and then the book got more political than I would have liked, but around page 225 the writing returned to the thoughtful and hilarious musings of various characters.












The Trip

This movie was so much fun. It's currently out in select theaters, but individuals who are Comcast subscribers can watch it On Demand. Go to On Demand, Movies, Search, and type in Trip. You should be able to find it. After paying $7.99, individuals will have 2 days to watch the film and replay moments if desired.

Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon play exaggerated versions of themselves in this film, which is a compilation of episodes of The Trip, which aired in the U.K. on television. The movie has many moments of seriousness, in which themes of loneliness and love are explored, but I appreciated the film for its stand-out comedic bits. Brydon does brilliant impressions, and Coogan does an equally great part mocking those impressions or trying to improve them. The banter in this film is par none, I think, in terms of buddy comedies. The film is said to be partially improvised, and you can totally tell in their verbal back-and-forth. Definitely a must see!




Woody Allen on Woody Allen

I'm a huge Woody Allen fan (see here for an old post), and I was delighted to find this book in my local public library when I browsed the film section. Each chapter is an interview with Allen about one particular film. I didn't get to finish the chapters of interest, but I hope to soon!

Woody Allen makes as strong an impression on paper as he does on film. For film lovers, this would be a great read.









Midnight in Paris

I've been wanting to see this film for ages! I finally did, and sure enough, it was pleasurable to watch but not in the way I'd expected. Ever since I saw the commercials, I thought Owen Wilson was perfect for taking on the role of a neurotic Allen-esque character. Yes, Wilson was a little on the hyperthinking side, but not as much as I'd expected. This film is less overly self-critical as it is more fantastical with some nice, clean lessons learned for the audience and main character. Wilson's character makes routine trips into 1920s France post-midnight, and his experiences with individuals such as Pablo Picasso, Ernest Hemingway, and F. Scott Fitzgerald are a real treat.

I don't think it's as hyped up as I thought it to be (which is very fitting given one of the messages relayed by the film), but I'd still recommend it to those considering.