The White Album by Joan Didion

This essay collection has taught me that there are better and worse times to read particular books for oneself, and tho ai don’t blame Didion, and tho I liked quite a few turns of phrase in the first quarter of this book, I really didn’t come to it at the right time and found her choice of subject boring, her discursive style wearying. 

Sicario (2015)

This hard-bitten narco drama in the vein of Heat (1995) (ie who's the good guys, whoops maybe nobody) hits hard and doesn't stop, is it overdramatic yes of course, is it realistic in any way I don't know probably not, but it doesn't flinch from demonstrating the disastrous effects of US drug policy.

The Social Network (2010)

Stressful Fincher Facebook drama full of his patented fast-paced dialogue (the fun part) and dramatic courtroom proceedings with lots of baleful glares (the boring part).

Parable of the Talents by Octavia E. Butler

Inconsistent and brutal read, sadness and disaster abound, made me want to cry, also long and not always interesting, and the sci-fi forecasting is kind of lacking in my humble opinion (!) but despite all that, very real and inspiring and i couldn't put it down.

The Sisters Brothers (2018)

The incredibly dry whimsy of the book (great book) didn't translate all that well for this movie version, and I think it's honestly because the two actors aren't right for their roles - great actors, just not for these roles.

The Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler

I really enjoyed the deep seed-thoughts about cooperation and defection, human society’s survival, and group dynamics that this classic book sowed in me. 

Cedar Rapids (2011)

Sigourney Weaver as a philandering former teacher of the main character is a funny bit, and weird, but this movie was too stupid for me to watch.

How to Blow Up a Pipeline (2023)

If you need to cut from the most exciting parts of the present action to jump into some backstory over and over, it might be a sign that you have 30 minutes of excitement and an hour of padding. 

The Green Knight (2021)

The vibes were immaculate, as the kids say, and although for some reason a couple of the main casting choices didn't sit perfectly for me, I very much enjoyed this flick - it's A24 and you keep thinking it'll have horror elements, but it does not.

The Wisdom of Crowds by Joe Abercrombie

Always easy to write the ninth book in a trilogy of trilogies, if you’ve done it right, altho there’s enough plot squeezed into this last chapter that it could’ve been a trilogy of its own, and what else can I say it was hard to put down, I loved it, the ending was fantastic. 

Only Angels Have Wings (1939)

I'm not sure I love how dramatic this old b+w adventure drama gets at times, but Jean Arthur's character is so self-assured and yet vulnerable, so real, and the film's story fits in a clever amount of plotlines and connections with some great pacing and storytelling.

The Trouble With Peace by Joe Abercrombie

I continued to read this series against my better judgment but i’m glad i did because altho the evil wizard was annoying me in the last book, he’s not even in this one, and it’s yet again Abercrombie at his best writing an exciting story full of nonstandard, complex characters. 

Sanity and Sainthood by Tucker Peck

As far as modern meditation books go you could do a lot worse than this approachable, down to earth (if somewhat cheesy) take, with its double emphasis on therapy and healing. 

A Little Hatred by Joe Abercrombie

I liked this new book in Abercrombie’s universe as far as its writing and story went, but the problem is he made his formerly conflicted main bad guy so cartoonishly evil now that i’m having trouble caring about the rest of the series. 

How to Steal a Million (1966)

I enjoyed this slightly silly Audrey Hepburn romcom, with its early-60s vibe and its European flair, and it had some good laughs, but it lacks a deep center, it's all periphery, there's nothing all that interesting at its heart and it doesn't fully hold together.

City Slickers (1991)

I made it halfway it's pretty stupid and regressive / doesn't hold up well, couple good laughs but Crystal's character is annoying.