Category Archives: Love Story

2013, Alcoholism, American Indian culture, Based on a Book, Based on true facts, Catholic culture, Dysfunctional Lives, Explicit sexual discussion, Love Story, Mental Illness, Psychiatrists, Psychological Drama, Quiet, Slow, Talking Heads, True Story, Unusual, War

Jimmy P. (2013)

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From Netflix:

Returning home from World War II, Blackfoot Native American Jimmy Picard suffers from a host of psychosomatic symptoms. In this drama based on a true story, he bonds with psychoanalyst Georges Devereux as the two explore his psyche for causes.

From Wikipedia:

Jimmy P. stars Benicio del Toro as the titular character, Jimmy Picard, a Blackfoot Indian who has returned from war with debilitating symptoms. Mathieu Amalric, who has appeared in most of Arnaud Desplechin’s films, plays George Devereux, a French doctor of Hungarian Jewish background, who specializes in ethnology and psycho analysis. Jimmy P. was shot in Michigan and Montana, and is primarily based on a book by George Devereux , “Reality and dream: Psychotherapy of a Plains Indian” (New York: International Univ. Press, 1951). The film is about some of the pioneering days of psychoanalysis.

Because this is basically a psychological talking-heads film, not everyone would find this story interesting. Except for some sad violence involving mentally ill patients, there is no action.

Assumedly Benicio del Toro’s first language might have been Spanish because he was born in Puerto Rico as the son of two Spanish lawyers. In this film he speaks in a slow, well articulated manner that presumably a Blackfoot Indian would use in speaking English. If you read del Toro’s full biography in IMDB, you might discover some films worth watching.

Mathieu Amalric is no great actor, but he delivers a believable performance.

For me seeing Gina McKee as Amalric’s “lover” was a nice surprise. Everytime I see her I remember her performance as Irene Forsyte in the British TV series “The Forsyte Saga”. Probably her portion of this film could have been entirely omitted without affecting the intent of the story.

Language fans will enjoy the discussion of Amerian Indian languages.

Not for everyone, but I was fascinated.

2014, Abduction, Action Film, Action Hero, Alcoholism, CIA, Clever Plot, Computer geeks, Conspiracy, DO NOT MISS, Father-son relations, FBI, Flirting, Love Story, Medical Theme, Motorcycles, Revenge, Spy Theme, Suspense, Torture, Violent

Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (2014)

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From Netflix:

CIA analyst Jack Ryan tries to thwart a terrorist plot to bring down the U.S. economy in this action-thriller helmed by Kenneth Branagh. Chris Pine plays the title character alongside an all-star cast that includes Kevin Costner and Keira Knightley.

Although films consisting of spies + CIA + terrorists + international plots + action heroes + car chases + FBI + “you name it” may seem to be all more or less the same, still some writers manage to make a particular film exciting and somehow a little different. Undoubtedly the star cast which includes Chris Pine, Keira Knightley, Kevin Costner, and Kenneth Branagh helps make this film worth seeing.

Romance between Chris Pine (as Jack Ryan) and Keira Knightley (as Doctor Cathy Muller) is clever and well done.

Needless to say, if our side of the effort does not win, then our world will end in some horrible disaster and major financial depression.

And of course Jack Ryan is a super hero endowed with amazing physical powers of survival. After all, do YOU have a doctorate in complex finance? Can YOU run and catch a moving delivery van? Are you able to physically fight commando style? Are YOU a computer wiz? If not, what is the matter with YOU?

In my case all I can do is watch the fun. All it takes is a really evil bad guy and I am hooked into the plot till the end. Kenneth Branagh excels at being that really nasty villain. He does it with such a straight face. Are Russians really that mean?

Despite the fact that there are an awful lot of clever CIA-like devices and surprises that get our hero out of many jams, if you like this action genre, then DO NOT MISS!

2013, British, Corruption, Cynical, Lawyers, Love Story, MI5, Nothing special, Suspense, Terrorist Attack

Closed Circuit (2013)

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From Netflix:

Martin and Claudia, top-flight lawyers who happen to be former lovers, become targets when they’re teamed up to defend a notorious terrorist. As the trial unfolds, the danger causes the pair to reevaluate their allegiance to justice.

If the plot confuses you in any way, you can read the Wikipedia summary. Nothing special distinguishes this story from other cloak and dagger films. MI5 is painted as a ruthless organization not above murdering their agents in order to cover up MI5 mistakes. But then clandestine government organizations are never suspect, are they? (Parlez-vous CIA?)

Eric Bana as Martin Rose and Rebecca Hall as Claudia Simmons-Howe play well as a team. Other notable appearances are from Ciarán Hinds as Devlin and Jim Broadbent as Attorney General.

Try the British TV series “MI5” instead.

2013, Action Film, Amazon Prime, Based on true facts, Car Chase, Communists, Complicated, Conspiracy, DO NOT MISS, Ethical struggles, FBI, Love Story, Marital Infidelity, Revenge, Russian, Sex Scenes, Spy Theme, Suspense, Torture, TV Series, Violent

The Americans (2013)

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From Netflix:

Set during the Reagan presidency, this Cold War drama follows two married Soviet sleeper agents living discreetly near Washington, D.C. But tensions begin to mount for the couple when a spy-hunting FBI man moves in nearby.

Because we use Amazon Prime I was able to stream season 1 of “The Americans” for free.

In Cambridge Massachusetts a Russian husband and wife team of spies were disguised as a normal American family. This real-life incident motivated this TV series which offers the same kind of milieu as the British TV series “MI-5”. Possibly “MI-5” is a bit better, but the quality and human interest in “The Americans” is excellent. Needless to say, both series are violent.

By “human interest” I refer to the pseudo marriage between the spies who by this time have two children, thoroughly American boy and girl who have no idea of their parents’ spying activity. In addition a new neighbor moves in who just happens to be an FBI agent whose specialty is counter-intelligence but whose family life always takes the familiar backseat to his career.

Be sure to appreciate the effective personality disguises these two spies use as they play many deceptive roles in society. For one example, the disguised husband actually goes so far as to marry an unsuspecting American woman in order to get her to bring him information.

Season One ends abruptly and inconclusively. Season Two seems to not yet be available. If you like spy stories, then DO NOT MISS!

2012, Comedy, Dysfunctional Lives, Love Story, Nothing special, Optimistic, Sex Scenes

Girl Most LIkely (2012)

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From Netflix:

After staging an unsuccessful suicide to get her boyfriend’s attention, a struggling playwright moves back home to live with her mother, her mother’s boyfriend and a handsome lodger who sings with a Backstreet Boys cover band.

Exaggerated family disfunction is the basis for this comedy, and indeed there are some good laughs. Annette Bening (as crazy mother Zelda) and Matt Dillon (as crazy boyfriend “The Bousche” of the crazy mother Zelda) are probably the best known actors. Kristen Wiig (as mixed-up daughter Imogene) will play young Lucille Bluth in the 2013 addition to “Arrested Development”. Darren Criss (as the roomer in crazy mother’s house) and Christopher Fitzgerald (as mixed-up bother Ralph of mixed-up daughter Imogene) are two newish faces that do well in the film.

Just sit back and take in the antics of these improbable personalities in this light-hearted disposable comedy.

1997, Based on true facts, Book Review, Conspiracy, Cuba, Explicit sex, Love Story, Murder Investigation, Nudity, Spanish

Cuba, La Noche de la Jinetera (1997) [Book Review]

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Recently I reviewed “El Peso del Silencio” written by Jordi Sierra I Fabra. That novel took place in Chile. An older novel by the same author “La Noche del la Jinetera” takes place in Castro’s Cuba. Both novels are in Spanish without an available translation. Both have audio versions from Audible.com.

“Jinetera” means a female almost-prostitute in Cuba who accompanies and sleeps with tourists to Cuba not so much for the money but to find a foreign husband as a means to escape the hardships of Cuba. Daniel Ros is the protagonist newspaper reporter in both novels. In “Jinetera” he is sent from his newspaper in Spain to Cuba to find out why his reporter friend Estanis was found dead in a hotel room in Cuba. Most of his adventure involves a jinetera named Anyelín with whom he falls in love (initially “in lust”). Secondary is an attempted assassination of Castro and a mass exodus of Cubans in flimsy boats.

Expect many detailed descriptions of sexual activity.

In order to appreciate the atmosphere of the story, a brief history of Cuban-American relations is in order. Here my source is chiefly the book “Overthrow” by Stephen Kinzer (Henry Holt and Company, 2006).

In 1898 the imperialist President McKinley, fearing that Cuba would free itself from Spain and become independent enough to not do Washington’s bidding, sent to Cuba the battleship Maine. For a reason never discovered that battleship exploded. For William Randolph Hearst, who had waged a campaign of newspaper lies against Spanish colonialists, that explosion was a godsend. To the delight of Vice President Theodore Roosevelt, Hearst, and Senator Henry Cabot Lodge, McKinley got Congress to declare war on Spain. In the skirmish in Santiago you may recall that Roosevelt led a charge up San Juan Hill dressed in a uniform he ordered from Brooks Brothers. Although Congress in the Teller amendment had promised independence to Cuba, Secretary of War Elihu Root and Senator Orville Platt broke that promise by authoring the Platt amendment which gave the U.S. control of Cuba. Cuban outrage was championed by the Communist party which in 1925 was outlawed by the Cuban dictator Gerado Machado. Franklin Roosevelt encouraged the Cuban army to rebel and the turmoil produced a new dictator Fulgencio Batista. Our Batista encouraged American investors, including prominent gangsters, to build an empire of prostitution and gambling. Batista fled Cuba in 1959, a few steps ahead of Castro’s rebels. President Eisenhower was baffled to learn that Cubans, for some reason or other, did not like the U.S.A. And the rest remains the history of the early 21st century. Stay tuned for further developments.

2002, Based on true facts, Basically Sad, Book Review, Conspiracy, Disturbing Image, Ethical struggles, Grim, Historical Fiction, Love Story, Murder Investigation, Revenge, Sadism, Spanish, Torture, Violent

El Peso del Silencio (2002) [Book Review]

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Written in Spanish with no English translation available, you can purchase this book for your kindle. Jordi Sierra I Fabra, the author who lives in Spain, wrote the book in 2002.

Brief summary: Agustín Serradell, a dying Spanish millionaire, proposes to pay a Spanish journalist, Daniel Ros, to travel to Chile in order to find the grave of Serradell’s son Santiago who was tortured and killed by Pinochet’s henchmen. Ros agrees. Many adventures await Daniel Ros in Chile as he tries to find the son, his only starting clues coming from a recently released CIA document. That document points to three men involved directly in the torture and murder. Ros will begin his effort by trying to locate those three men. Here I stop the summary so that I don’t present you with any “spoilers”. Rest assured there are many surprise twists and turns as the story progresses.

In order to appreciate the background of the Pinochet era in Chile a bit of history is in order. Here my source is chiefly the book “Overthrow” by Stephen Kinzer (Henry Holt and Company, 2006).

Beginning in 1964 the CIA spent $3 million in Chile to help Eduardo Frei win an election against the nationalist Salvador Allende. Because the U.S. also gave $163 million in American military aid, the U.S. felt it had earned legitimate control of Chile. Kennedy had promoted his Alliance for Progress in order to encourage Latin America’s “democratic left”. Nixon hated Kennedy and decided to counteract this Alliance for Progress by supporting instead the business elite and military. Allende wanted to nationalize industry and return to Chile control over its own resources such as copper and the telephone company. American ambassador Korry and the CIA, urged on by Kissinger and David Rockefeller, asked Nixon for permission to wage a “spoiling” campaign against Allende. “Spoiling” meant planting propaganda in newspapers, stirring up fear of Communism, and supporting rightist candidates. Despite such efforts Chileans elected Allende. Nixon then ordered CIA director Helms to prevent Allende from coming to power. Effort One was to encourage President Frei to deny the election. Frei refused. Effort Two was to foment a military coup. Kissinger directed this effort. Despite objections from members of the CIA and the State Department, Kissinger and Nixon were determined to use bloody chaos to achieve their ends. Part of the CIA’s standard methodology for overthrowing a government is to destroy the country’s economy and blame the failure on the targeted victim, even if this means bringing severe deprivation to the population. Another tactic is to defeat military supporters of the targeted victim. In fact the U.S. delivered weapons to Chilean conspirators who assassinated Allende’s loyal supporter General Schneider. Chilean citizens were outraged by the murder staged by America and determined to remain loyal to Chilean democratic principles despite such American interference. After Allende’s inauguration many leading American companies active in Chile (ITT, Anaconda, Firestone, Pfizer, Bank of America, etc) joined in the effort to unseat Allende. Washington columnist Jack Anderson exposed 24 ITT internal memos which brought the “ITT Papers” scandal against Nixon. Helms was convicted of perjury when he lied about CIA involvement. Schneider’s successor, General Prats was a strict constitutionalist and defeated a CIA tank coup against Allende. In retaliation the CIA stated public and violent demonstration against Prats who was forced to resign and hand over power to the CIA puppet General Augusto Pinochet. Ironically Pinochet chose 9/11 (September 11, 1973) to bring a military attack against Allende. Infantry units, British Hawker Hunter fighter planes, eighteen rockets moved against the presidential palace. Allende died. Our Pinochet (after all, we the U.S. created this monster) was then free to unleash his reign of imprisonment, exile, torture, and murder.

“El Peso del Silencio” makes this sad history all the more personal by centering on its effect on a few characters in the novel. Strong reading, reader beware!

2000, Jewish Culture, Love Story, Military, Religious Theme, Suspense, Thought provoking, War

Time of Favor (2000)

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From Netflix:

Both a political-psychological drama and a love story between a passionate woman and two best friends, this profound film addresses the tense relationship between the orthodox nationalists and the military on Israel’s West Bank.

By perusing the streamable offerings from Netflix, sometimes you can find a film you might otherwise have missed. “Time of Favor” is such a film. English subtitles are available for this Israeli film which offers some insight into the Israeli culture, especially the military and orthodox cultures. Menachem, his sad friend Pini, and Michal the girl that Pini loves are an attractive and well-played trio. Without taking sides, you can appreciate more the problems with life in Israel.

Noteworthy for me, if I understand correctly, is the honorable and chaste approach to courtship. Michal’s rabbi father wants to arrange a marriage between Michal and Pini. But Michal is not attracted to Pini and instead is interested in Menachem. Menachem does not want to hurt his rejected and angry friend Pini. In one scene Menachem and Michal find a secluded spot in which to talk. Instead of touching, they project hand shadows on the wall that do the touching.

You must take the culture as it is presented in order to enjoy this film. Wikipedia offers some more details.

1995, Abduction, Black humor, Book Review, Crime, Gangs, Love Story, Marital Infidelity, Mediocre, Nothing special, Rape, Sex Scenes, Sports, Vulgar, Witty dialog

Deal Breaker (1995) [Book Review]

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From Wikipedia:

Harlan Coben (born January 4, 1962) is an American author of mystery novels and thrillers. The plots of his novels often involve the resurfacing of unresolved or misinterpreted events in the past (such as murders, fatal accidents, etc.) and often have multiple plot twists. Both series of Coben’s books are set in and around New York and New Jersey, and some of the supporting characters in the two series have appeared in both.

If you are looking for wisecracks and funny repartee, go no farther. If you are looking for something a bit more serious, well-crafted, and original then look elsewhere. This lightweight book is the first of the Myron Bolitar series and is a fun read but nothing special.

Myron Bolitar is a former athlete and current sports agent. One of his clients, a football player named Christian, becomes associated with the disappearance of Christian’s girlfriend. In order to save Christian’s career (and his own commissions) Myron investigates the crime with the help of his very eccentric and somewhat unscrupulous quasi-partner Win.

Expect to encounter murder, pornography, gangsters, sex scenes, adultery, and more. In other words, expect to find what you usually find in somewhat mediocre crime novels.

1996, Abduction, Based on true facts, Bicycles, Book Review, British, Complicated, Conspiracy, Cynical, Daniel Silva, Ethical struggles, Flirting, Gangs, Gay theme, Gritty, International thriler, Love Story, Physical child abuse, Political Suspense, Sea Rescue, Sex Scenes, Small British village, Spy Theme, Suspense, Thriller, Violent, War, WWII

The Unlikely Spy (1996) [Book Review]

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Book Description:

In wartime,” Winston Churchill wrote, “truth is so precious that she should always be attended by a bodyguard of lies.” For Britain’s counterintelligence operations, this meant finding the unlikeliest agent imaginable-a history professor named Alfred Vicary, handpicked by Churchill himself to expose a highly dangerous, but unknown, traitor. The Nazis, however, have also chosen an unlikely agent: Catherine Blake, a beautiful widow of a war hero, a hospital volunteer-and a Nazi spy under direct orders from Hitler to uncover the Allied plans for D-Day…

Daniel Silva was a journalist and TV producer before he began his first novel “The Unlikely Spy” in 1994. This book was such a success that Silva left CNN in 1997 to pursue writing full-time. One of his more known series of books are those featuring the character Gabriel Allon.

Although Silva was born and raised in the U.S.A. (he was raised Catholic and converted to Judaism as an adult), in reading this novel you would swear he was British. We had just returned from visiting our daughter in London and it was an extra pleasure recognizing all the London streets, parks, and subway stops that figure in the plot.

Once you get used to the 20 or so characters that stay continually in the plot you may find this WW II spy novel a real page-turner. Besides the usual cloak and dagger details, the novel is saved from dryness by romances, personal ruminations, political one-upmanship, historical tidbits, and an essential focal point: an effort to prevent Berlin from knowing exactly where the allied invasion will be, i.e. Normandy.

Finally I stayed up late reading for three hours just to see how the final great chase after the clever Nazi spies ended.