The Genius by Jesse Kellerman

July 27, 2008 under: books, reviews

Genre: crime, mystery

Summary: After gallery owner Ethan Muller successfully launches a large exhibition of drawings unlike anything that anyone has ever seen, he is contacted by the police about the artist Victor Cracke, a man who may be connected to the rape and murder of five young boys.

Rating:

Positives

I’m still iffy about Kellerman’s inclusion of the Muller family history, but he manages to make it gripping and colorful. The character development in this book is especially commendable.
Varied diction, always a plus. I learned new words like milquetoast and stultifying.
Twists and turns that kept me flipping through the pages.
Like a good episode of Law and Order: SVU.

Negatives

The interludes often broke the story’s flow.
Kellerman uses of all three POVs, which made it difficult for me to adjust to his writing style.

Iffy

It takes five chapters to get the mystery started, and even then it progresses rather slowly.
There’s a lot of Muller family history in this book. And although it serves a purpose, this book was 2/3 family history and only 1/3 mystery.
I didn’t understand the last sentence of the book. That made the ending very anticlimactic for me.

The Air I Breathe (2008)

July 14, 2008 under: movies, reviews

Genre: crime, drama

Starring: Sarah Michelle Gellar, Brendan Fraser, Kevin Bacon, Forest Whitaker, Andy Garcia
Summary: "A businessman bets his life on a horse race; a gangster sees the future; a pop star (Gellar) falls prey to a crime boss; a doctor must save the love of his life." (IMDB)

Rating:

Positives

Excellent background/mood music.
Well coordinated fight scenes with Brendan Fraser.
First movie I’ve seen that uses a circular narrative.

Negatives

Emile Hirsch’s character was so “fuckin” annoying.
Although all four protagonists were linked, there was no overarching storyline.
Star power wasted on an underdeveloped script.

Iffy

The conventional female nudity scenes at a strip joint. Why do they always have these? They’re so unnecessary.

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (2005)

July 10, 2008 under: movies, reviews

Genre: adventure, drama

Starring: Amber Tamblyn, Blake Lively, America Ferrera, Alexis Bledel, Jenna Boyd
Summary: Four best friends embark on separate summer adventures, but stay connected with a pair of jeans that fit them all.

Rating:

Positives

Lead actresses had amazing chemistry.
Two scenes actually brought tears to my eyes.
Breathtaking shots of Greece.
Equally breathtaking male eye-candy.
Ultimately, a powerful story about “sisterhood.”
I would like to watch the sequel.

Negatives

Lena’s story wasn’t interesting… another modern spin of Romeo and Juliet.
Bridget’s story wasn’t particularly interesting either. Her little romance with what’s-his-name completely distracted you from the fact that she’s supposed to be dealing with her mother’s death.

Iffy

Some of Tibby’s scenes looked like they were taken right out of an indie movie, which didn’t feel in tune with the rest of the movie.
A twelve-year-old has more wisdom than I do!