FLIX!
Since I don't believe one should only review things they liked, I will review this.
This film was one long gladiator fight interrupted only occasionally by a tremor, and then the volcano erupted.
The End.
Grade: E
Friday, February 28, 2014
Saturday, February 15, 2014
The Patriarch
PAGES!
The Patriarch - The Remarkable Life and Turbulent Times of Joseph P. Kennedy
David Nasaw
The Penguin Press 2012
There is something strangely compelling about the Kennedy family. And it all begins with the Patriarch of the family, Joseph P. Kennedy. Since I have read so much about this family in the past, I could not wait to read yet another account with a new emphasis. This one focused on the father Joe instead of the other family members.
David Nasaw was very thorough in his research and did something that many biographers cannot do. He did a complete research and wrote it out and yet made it a compelling read.
I think the single most interesting thing I learned from this book is that Joe Kennedy never took part in any form of boot-legging. By the time Prohibition happened he's already made the Lion's share of his fortune and had no need to dabble in anything nefarious. But the "Joe Kennedy was a boot-legger" mythology is so absorbed in the American back-story that it is difficult to adjust to, when one realizes that some of what we've always believed is myth.
That is not to say he did not have his own troubling personality problems. First of all, throughout his life he made money. Lots of it. He made it primarily in the Stock Market and in Hollywood. He was eventually asked to do some work for the Maritime Commission and he did such an excellent job, that later he was brought in as the very first head of what was being called the Security Exchange Commission. While there he tightened up loopholes and questionable practices that many deemed unethical. Ironically many of these questionable practices were the very thing Mr. Kennedy had exploited to make his fortune. But Mr. Kennedy was not crooked; not a gangster in a tuxedo. Throughout his life, although he was never afraid to frequent the same night clubs, or restaurants frequented by mobsters and other questionable characters, he never needed to interact with them. Whatever he needed he could get from others.
When Mr. Kennedy became a big player in the Roosevelt election campaign, he did it in the belief that there would be a big prize in it for him. He longed to be the Treasury Secretary. Instead he was given the Ambassadorship to England - a plush assignment to anyone's mind, but still one that Kennedy deemed beneath his level. As a war with Germany became more and more a possibility, Kennedy kept preaching appeasement, that it stay out of war at any cost, even if it meant giving the Nazis everything they wanted. He would officially declare it was for the good of Britain and that he could not bear the thought of young men dying in battle if a solution could be found to prevent it. But the reality is that deep in his psyche, maybe even unconsciously, he thought it was a threat to his fortune. He made it known many times that he thought a world war would cause a depression like the world had never seen and that money would be worthless. He could not bear the thought of his fortune, and the fortune he's acquired for his family (he had large trusts for each of his children) becoming non-existant.
But if ever anyone brought to life the old saying "money can't buy happiness", it was Joe Kennedy. Yes, he accumulated unbridled wealth. But along the way there seemed that the money brought with it a curse. First his oldest, and most beloved son, Joe Jr., in an attempt to be a war hero like his younger brother Jack [Jack Kennedy had done remarkable feats saving fellow crew members when his PT-109 was rammed], wanted some glory too. So he volunteered for an extremely dangerous mission and was killed during it. Next, one of his older daughters Kathleen was married in London, with her husband a month when he was sent to the front and he was killed three months later. Following that the oldest daughter Rosemary's doctors were given the go-ahead by Joe to do a lobotomy in order to make her less "slow." Instead the reverse happened and she became the next thing to a vegetable. Then Kathleen, nick-named "Kick", was killed in a plane crash.
And later still after John Kennedy had become President, he was assassinated. Then Ted's disastrous events at Chappiquidick. And finally Joe lived long enough to learn that Bobby too, had been assassinated. And curse seemingly continued. Grandchildren killed in skiing accidents, grandsons accused of rape, and most sadly of all John Kennedy Jr., his wife and sister-in-law perished in a plane crash.
Joseph Kennedy had suffered a stroke years before, but died in 1969, long before any of his grandchildren could get into trouble or be killed. He spent his last years in a wheelchair, with a gnarled up fist at the end of a useless hand, unable to speak. But still, what a life. What a life indeed.
David Nasaw was given access to everything he needed and free rein to do any research he needed to make this book as historically accurate as possible. And although it is nearly 800 pages, it was what it took to tell this story. Like I said, I happen to be intrigued by this family, but I believe anyone seriously interested in the history of 20th century America owes it to themselves to read this book. It is a beauty, and a thing of wonder. Thank you Mr. Nasaw, and thank you Mr. Kennedy.
Grade: A
The Patriarch - The Remarkable Life and Turbulent Times of Joseph P. Kennedy
David Nasaw
The Penguin Press 2012
There is something strangely compelling about the Kennedy family. And it all begins with the Patriarch of the family, Joseph P. Kennedy. Since I have read so much about this family in the past, I could not wait to read yet another account with a new emphasis. This one focused on the father Joe instead of the other family members.
David Nasaw was very thorough in his research and did something that many biographers cannot do. He did a complete research and wrote it out and yet made it a compelling read.
I think the single most interesting thing I learned from this book is that Joe Kennedy never took part in any form of boot-legging. By the time Prohibition happened he's already made the Lion's share of his fortune and had no need to dabble in anything nefarious. But the "Joe Kennedy was a boot-legger" mythology is so absorbed in the American back-story that it is difficult to adjust to, when one realizes that some of what we've always believed is myth.
That is not to say he did not have his own troubling personality problems. First of all, throughout his life he made money. Lots of it. He made it primarily in the Stock Market and in Hollywood. He was eventually asked to do some work for the Maritime Commission and he did such an excellent job, that later he was brought in as the very first head of what was being called the Security Exchange Commission. While there he tightened up loopholes and questionable practices that many deemed unethical. Ironically many of these questionable practices were the very thing Mr. Kennedy had exploited to make his fortune. But Mr. Kennedy was not crooked; not a gangster in a tuxedo. Throughout his life, although he was never afraid to frequent the same night clubs, or restaurants frequented by mobsters and other questionable characters, he never needed to interact with them. Whatever he needed he could get from others.
When Mr. Kennedy became a big player in the Roosevelt election campaign, he did it in the belief that there would be a big prize in it for him. He longed to be the Treasury Secretary. Instead he was given the Ambassadorship to England - a plush assignment to anyone's mind, but still one that Kennedy deemed beneath his level. As a war with Germany became more and more a possibility, Kennedy kept preaching appeasement, that it stay out of war at any cost, even if it meant giving the Nazis everything they wanted. He would officially declare it was for the good of Britain and that he could not bear the thought of young men dying in battle if a solution could be found to prevent it. But the reality is that deep in his psyche, maybe even unconsciously, he thought it was a threat to his fortune. He made it known many times that he thought a world war would cause a depression like the world had never seen and that money would be worthless. He could not bear the thought of his fortune, and the fortune he's acquired for his family (he had large trusts for each of his children) becoming non-existant.
But if ever anyone brought to life the old saying "money can't buy happiness", it was Joe Kennedy. Yes, he accumulated unbridled wealth. But along the way there seemed that the money brought with it a curse. First his oldest, and most beloved son, Joe Jr., in an attempt to be a war hero like his younger brother Jack [Jack Kennedy had done remarkable feats saving fellow crew members when his PT-109 was rammed], wanted some glory too. So he volunteered for an extremely dangerous mission and was killed during it. Next, one of his older daughters Kathleen was married in London, with her husband a month when he was sent to the front and he was killed three months later. Following that the oldest daughter Rosemary's doctors were given the go-ahead by Joe to do a lobotomy in order to make her less "slow." Instead the reverse happened and she became the next thing to a vegetable. Then Kathleen, nick-named "Kick", was killed in a plane crash.
And later still after John Kennedy had become President, he was assassinated. Then Ted's disastrous events at Chappiquidick. And finally Joe lived long enough to learn that Bobby too, had been assassinated. And curse seemingly continued. Grandchildren killed in skiing accidents, grandsons accused of rape, and most sadly of all John Kennedy Jr., his wife and sister-in-law perished in a plane crash.
Joseph Kennedy had suffered a stroke years before, but died in 1969, long before any of his grandchildren could get into trouble or be killed. He spent his last years in a wheelchair, with a gnarled up fist at the end of a useless hand, unable to speak. But still, what a life. What a life indeed.
David Nasaw was given access to everything he needed and free rein to do any research he needed to make this book as historically accurate as possible. And although it is nearly 800 pages, it was what it took to tell this story. Like I said, I happen to be intrigued by this family, but I believe anyone seriously interested in the history of 20th century America owes it to themselves to read this book. It is a beauty, and a thing of wonder. Thank you Mr. Nasaw, and thank you Mr. Kennedy.
Grade: A
Friday, February 7, 2014
Frozen
Flix!
My wife saw this before I did and she was really impressed. She kept walking around, professing how doggone cute it was, and so when she suggested a few nights later that we go, I agreed.
Frozen is loosely adapted from the Hans Christian Anderson story "The Snow Queen." It involves the story of two sisters, one of which has extraordinary powers to freeze everything. Although her power is almost beyond her control. As she is crowned Queen of her country, she ends up sending her nation into a deep-freeze, an eternal winter, that keeps getting colder.
Her younger sister sets out on a journey to find her, and along the way enlists the help of a young man and his faithful sidekick reindeer. So off they go, but before they get there they meet a little snowman, who is a stitch and is a great comic element to the rest of the story. The younger sister is convinced that her Snow Queen sister can reverse what's happened in their town and make it summer again.
There is a lot of music in this film and the songs are all pretty wonderful. I kept thinking that if I had to vote on best song in a film for the Oscar, I wouldn't know which one to pick.
I haven't been to a Disney animated film in quite awhile, but I must say I did enjoy this. The cast was made up of virtual unknowns to us regular folks, although they are probably big stars on Broadway. Great vocals.
This is a wonderful film that had my wife tearing up at the end the first time she saw it. I liked it very much too. If I were to do a top ten movies of 2013, this would be in my top ten.
I recommend this film, and doggone it, it is cute. And fun. And my only regret about it is that Walt Disney didn't live to see this. He would have loved it and all the computer generated stuff. And if there were any justice he would have....he'd only be in his 80's now.....
Grade: B+
My wife saw this before I did and she was really impressed. She kept walking around, professing how doggone cute it was, and so when she suggested a few nights later that we go, I agreed.
Frozen is loosely adapted from the Hans Christian Anderson story "The Snow Queen." It involves the story of two sisters, one of which has extraordinary powers to freeze everything. Although her power is almost beyond her control. As she is crowned Queen of her country, she ends up sending her nation into a deep-freeze, an eternal winter, that keeps getting colder.
Her younger sister sets out on a journey to find her, and along the way enlists the help of a young man and his faithful sidekick reindeer. So off they go, but before they get there they meet a little snowman, who is a stitch and is a great comic element to the rest of the story. The younger sister is convinced that her Snow Queen sister can reverse what's happened in their town and make it summer again.
There is a lot of music in this film and the songs are all pretty wonderful. I kept thinking that if I had to vote on best song in a film for the Oscar, I wouldn't know which one to pick.
I haven't been to a Disney animated film in quite awhile, but I must say I did enjoy this. The cast was made up of virtual unknowns to us regular folks, although they are probably big stars on Broadway. Great vocals.
This is a wonderful film that had my wife tearing up at the end the first time she saw it. I liked it very much too. If I were to do a top ten movies of 2013, this would be in my top ten.
I recommend this film, and doggone it, it is cute. And fun. And my only regret about it is that Walt Disney didn't live to see this. He would have loved it and all the computer generated stuff. And if there were any justice he would have....he'd only be in his 80's now.....
Grade: B+
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