TrevorTrujillo

Well-researched history anthology with a clear thesis

Revisado: 10-29-24

Not only is it perfectly illustrated that Western culture was conducting absolutely disgusting miscarriages of justice long before (and including) the Salem Witch Trials, but Gibson goes even further to show that the shocking persecution of people (especially women) utilizing witch trials continues in the modern day.
It is evident that Gibson wanted to tell the individual backstories of the accused, and treat them for what they are: victims of corruption. Part true crime anthology, part cautionary social tale, and part scandalous historical tell-all; Gibson's Witchcraft [...] is an engaging history of witch hunts at the hands of an unjust and corrupt Christendom. Perhaps a tad academic for some audiences, I (personally) found it to be a well-researched history anthology with a clear thesis regarding modern morality.

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An indispensable reference for horror fans, film scholars, and aspiring filmmakers

Revisado: 01-29-24

An indispensable reference for horror fans, film scholars, and aspiring filmmakers covering Black contributions and representation in horror from the early days of Oscar Micheaux to modern horror auteur Jordan Peele.
Comprehensive and, at times, challenging of beloved "classic" films, Robin R. Means Coleman walks the reader through a chronological history of film and its relationship to Black culture, warts and all. Readers, such as myself, who are not part of Black culture will likely learn much and have their perceptions challenged in a persuasive, academic, and very readable manner.
I listened to this as an Audiobook, but will be investing in a print version for easy reference. Put it on the shelf next to the Pauline Kael, Roger Ebert, and Leonard Maltin books: This is a keeper.
Perhaps a little dry and academic for some, but I like my dry non-fiction when it's interesting, accessible, and informative- Horror Noire delivers on all three.

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Fun, funny, high quality

Revisado: 12-23-23

I might be a sucker for this one, but I enjoy it a lot. Matt is funny, the show is highly produced, and the movies discussed are interesting.

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Star

Revisado: 03-23-23

An old saying goes "never meet your heroes."
Leonard Maltin didn't get the memo.
Maltin's STARSTRUCK is equal parts autobiography and a collection of meet cute stories. (Okay, they're not ALL meet cutes, I just like the term. BTW, did you know that Burt Reynolds had one-sided beef with Leonard? He did! Sometimes. Occasionally.)
This new book from the prolific film critic, preservation advocate, and historian made me realize that he truly is just a regular fan who works really hard, knows his stuff, and has had a pretty visible career that puts him in the orbit of Hollywood's elite.
Hearing his stories about meeting film professionals he admired, and geeking out about those experiences, was so much fun to read. Especially since I've had the chance to meet Leonard myself, I too have a fun story about it, and I geek out about it to anyone who will let me.
Leonard also avoids being a rumor mill tattle reporter, and avoids spilling gossip and scandal. You can almost hear his reassuring voice saying from the page "yeah, there was scandal, but this isn't that story."

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Readable but overlong

Revisado: 03-23-23

A fascinating and twisted peek into the world of investment art collection by the worldwide elite. Ben Lewis guides us through a readable history of Leonardo Da Vinci, the Salvatore Mundi painting, the painting's known provenance, the painting's supposed provenance, the people surrounding its rediscovery and restoration, and ultimately the politics of the art collectors world.
The book does get a little overlong and the listings of the painting's provenance can be overwhelming, but on the whole the story is a slice of life from a world few of us will ever see or know.

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Fletch goes bougie art world

Revisado: 03-23-23

Gregory McDonald's smart alec investigative reporter, Irwin "Fletch" Fletcher, returns for the second book in the series, one that removes Fletch from the newsroom and plops him in the middle of art, aristocracy, millionaires, and murder.
Missing some of the more (by today's standard) problematic beats of the first book, #2 pits Fletch against rich jerks, a job he is very well equipped for with a knowledge of art criticism and his razor tongue. A fun and quick read, hope to see the new movie, based on this book, soon.

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Tragic, heartbreaking, frustrating

Revisado: 03-23-23

A chronicle of one of the twisted murder cases that helped birth and codify the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Jeffrey Dahmer, Ted Bundy, John Wayne Gacy: all killers who strike a chord of revulsion, fascination, and hatred. But for as messed up as those guys absolutely were, the killer behind this story is almost something else entirely. Less Zodiac Killer and more Lex Luthor, the ultimate villain of the Osage murders left my blood cold.
Gram skillfully gives us the setting by introducing us to the Osage people, their history with the U.S. Government, and the phenomenon of their oil claims to their land. Conversely Gram also gives us a history of the wolves constantly surrounding the Osage and the FBI agents trying to find which wolf is a murderer.
Absolutely primed for Martin Scorsese's style, the film version should be pretty special.

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Controversial book, fascinating read

Revisado: 03-23-23

By way of disclaimer, it is worth mentioning that the investigation detailed in this book has come under criticism for its conclusions and methodology. This has led to the book being removed from shelves in some European markets.
While I can't speak to that particular controversy, except to say that the book makes no accusations without caveat, I can say the overall read was very interesting. Using Artificial Intelligence and modern cold case methods, an assembled team attempts to solve one of the great mysteries of the holocaust: who betrayed Anne Frank, her family, and the others hiding in the now famous annex. If nothing else, a good chronicle of a modern investigation.
The book has no smoking gun and no overwhelming evidence, damning or otherwise, into the betrayal of the "hiders," but does serve as a hindsight history of the annex, the people who lived there, their fates, and the history of The Diary and the organizations that sprung up in its wake.

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A kiss to the film from a fan

Revisado: 03-23-23

A fan's in-depth history into Sunset Boulevard, one of the greatest films about film ever put on...film. With an obvious admiration for Billy Wilder, almost to the point of a literary tongue-kiss, Sam Staggs guides the reader on the story of Sunset Boulevard from conception to release, and then explores the life after the film, the several attempts at a Broadway musical, the Broadway drama surrounding Andrew Lloyd Webber's eventual version, and the many films that owe their DNA to this piece of Hollywood cinema.
A well researched history with original interviews, the book does cater to Sunset Boulevard superfans and may not be for the layman.
Staggs, himself a superfan, also flexes his critic chops in the back half of the book, sometimes coming off a bit too b*tchy, as he dismisses many of the follow ups, homages, and ripoffs of the original masterpiece.

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Solid collection

Revisado: 03-23-23

Like most collections of short stories, I liked some entries more than others. What I can say about THIS collection is that I didn't dislike any of the stories in this volume.
My first exposure to the prose of Joe Hill, I came here after enjoying the film adaptation of THE BLACK PHONE, and figured this was as good a place as any to begin my Joe Hill journey. Based on my experiences here, I will be returning.
"Pop Art," "The Cape," "The Black Phone," and "Voluntary Committal" were personal highlights.
Even on stories that didn't unsettle or scare me, Hill demonstrates an ability to captivate, which I feel is more important than any bag of tricks a horror writer might deploy to get a reaction from his audience.
It's almost impossible not to read a certain amount of personal allegory into several of the stories, the implications of which are disquieting, but the result is a fiercely readable collection from a skilled storyteller.

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