Book review - "A Time to Stand" by Walter Lord (1961)

 History of the Alamo. Readable, seems to be well researched for the time, a bit racist (Texan enthusiasm for slavery is dealt with in one sentence). It would've been gutsy then to suggest Crockett was shot after surrendering. The ending is exciting.

Movie review - "OC and Stiggs" (1987) **

 Famed as Robert Altman's worst movie though there are a few contenders to that throne. It's his attempt at a teen film, and he definitely did an Altman version - there's the overlapping dialogue, improvised feel, ramshackle nature and so on.

The plot focuses on the antics of two troublesome friends, a little like Trapper and Hawkeye in MASH only it's hard to differentiate these two. The actors are fine just lacking a little in individuality. They spend a lot of time pulling pranks including tormenting a young Jon Cryer. Cynthia Nixon is in this too. And Dennis Hopper, Paul Dooley and Jane Curtin. Once you get in its rhythm it's fine, it's just weird that it exists.

This was shot in 1983 but not released until 1987 or something. I get why but why did they hire Altman to make it?

Book review - "Foundation" by Isaac Asimov

 Famous. Influential. Hard to get through even though lots of short chapters. A lot of intelligence going on. Just not great story telling or characters.

Movie review - "Get Carter" (1971) **** (warning: spoilers)

 It's entirely appropriate this was remade as a blaxplotiation film because it feels like white blaxploitation - there's a funky soundtrack, Michael Caine's Carter is a bad ass out for revenge, he comes in to town and within something like two days manages to solve the crime, kill a lot of baddies, have sex with two women and phone sex with a third, kills two women.

It's new lad cinema par excellance, with its ruthless hero. Carter is a superstud. He's also not softened - a young kid who helps him is bashed up and he barely cares though offers some cash, he kills two women like I said, throws a tubby businessman off a staircase. So it makes sense morally that he dies.

It is unpleasant at times but also very well done. Location filming helps as does the superb cast - Caine was never better, nor was Britt Ekland, or John Osborne or Ian Hendry.

I'm always suspicious of people who really, really love this movie but it is extremely well made.

Movie review - "Wonder Woman 1984" (2020) **

 Why didn't this work? The trailer was great. Cast great. Story pretty good. Bring back Chris Pine. Set it in 1984, have Cheetah...

It follows the template of Batman sequels, the early ones, in that it is an origin story for two villains. Only both are very sympathetic (Max Lord just loves his kid and was bullied by his dad, Cheetah just needed love) maybe too sympathetic. What's wrong with just a baddy?

The finale felt false with people renouncing wishes. It's alright for Diana, she's hot and immortal with superpowers... the rest of us maybe don't return to something so great.

It lacks energy. They could have used the 1984 thing more. Why flash back to the Amazon Island? The romance between Chris Pine and Gal Gadot feels so, so perfunctory - like both are phoning it in.

Movie review - "Secret Honor" (1984) ***1/2

 After a string of flops Robert Altman battened down the hatches and filmed a bunch of cheapie play adaptations. This is Philip Baker Hall's one man show about Nixon going nuts. It's great fun and Altman does an unobtrusive piece of direction. This would be better on stage but it's entertaining.

Script review - "Trainwreck" by Amy Schumer

 Gave this a read just because. It's so good. Smart, funny, warm. A lot of these Apatow produced scripts are from the heart and consist of two handers, giving them great warmth as well as humour. Really well done.