August Favorites

Down to My Last Bad Habit, Vince Gill: I'm a few months late to the party on this album, but I'm glad I finally discovered it. Down to My Last Bad Habit is a laid back, soulful album that sounds like a cross between Lyle Lovett, Robert Cray, and a male version of Bonnie Raitt. The bluesy edge that many of the songs have fits especially well with Vince Gill's rich, resonant voice. There's also a guest spot and solo by the always excellent Chis Botti on "One More Mistake I Made". This album is just right for back porch cocktails on a perfect summer night.

Rick Astley at The Box: After seeing Rick in London earlier this year, I was not expecting to get another chance to see him again just a few months later. Since this was the first time Rick was performing in the US since 1989 (!!!), I just had to be there – and I'm very glad I was. The Box is an extremely small venue, so it was a super intimate show packed with hard-core fans. Rick sounded even better than he did in London, and many renditions of his hit songs sounded even better than the recorded versions I know by heart. Kudos for Rick for keeping his voice in top condition all these years! Once again, Rick's between-song banter was top notch; the man has an extremely winning personality and a wicked sense of humor. He seemed to be having a lot of fun up on stage, and that made him even more fun to watch. I hope Rick keeps his promise to do a larger US tour in the future, because seeing him live is a truly amazing experience, and I've already watched all my video clips from this show way too many times.

Hell or High Water: This is a superb film driven by a tight (and very Texan) script and excellent performances by Chris Pine (finally given a meaty role to make his own that isn't James T. Kirk), Ben Foster, Jeff Bridges, and Gil Birmingham. Hell or High Water is reminiscent of 70s crime films, minimal and gritty, and sympathetic to both sides of the law: smart cops trying to stay one step ahead and down-and-out working class men trying to claw their way up to make a mark on the world. In this case, two Texas rangers are after a pair of brothers trying to hold on to the family farm. The chemistry between each of these pairs of men is fantastic, and their barbs and quips provide patches of levity against the bleakness of the landscape surrounding them – which, as the icing on the cake, is beautifully rendered by expert cinematography.

Florence Foster Jenkins: Hugh Grant is absolutely outstanding in this film, though of course Meryl Streep is quite good as well. They both play such wonderfully compassionate people who most value love and happiness in the purest sense. While the eccentricities of their characters can be comical, their quest to enjoy life to the fullest (regardless of the opinions of others) is admirable and inspiring. The combination of tremendously empathetic and humane performances paired with a richly layered story makes for an extremely touching and heartwarming film.

Crazy Rich Asians and China Rich Girlfriend, Kevin Kwan: These two books are so much fun to read! The main characters are easy to empathize with amidst the outrageously affluent supporting casts. However, it is that outrageousness that makes these books so addictively enjoyable. Kwan's insider understanding of Asian society reminded me of  James Clavell (especially Noble House), but with a much lighter touch. I liked how Kwan's tone is largely mater-of-fact, with just a hint of a wink here and there. Couture, fancy jewels, and huge houses are the norm for his characters, so the text doesn't swoon over these details. Rather, they are presented as a matter of course, a part of the day-to-day lives of Kwan's characters. Writing about the ultra-rich without being in awe of them can be a difficult balance to strike, but as Waugh did in Brideshead Revisited, Kwan imbues the wealthy with humanity and foibles, making them just the right amount of oblivious to the less privileged world around them. I am very much looking forward to the final book of the trilogy.

War Dogs: This movie features fabulous sunglasses, an excellent soundtrack, and highly committed performances from Jonah Hill, Miles Teller, and Bradley Cooper. Hill's outrageous, over-the-top performance and Cooper's playing against type are what make this movie so enjoyable to watch. The fact that it's all based on a very true story makes it even better.

Blood Father: New York magazine's Vulture blog recently asked Are You Ready for Mel Gibson’s Comeback?, and based on Blood Father, my answer is a resounding "Yes!" I was a kid during Gibson's heyday, though I certainly have vivid memories of watching Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome on TV. The last Gibson movies that left any kind of lasting impression both came out in 2000: What Women Want and The Patriot. This is all to say that I've enjoyed Mel Gibson as an actor for quite a while, and after a long rough patch, I was excited that a movie he was in was getting such excellent buzz (even though its distribution plan seems more limited than most – i.e. it's nearly impossible to see this movie even in New York City!). Blood Father lives up to the good reviews and Mel is a total boss; the man who once ruled the box office is visible through the grizzled visage on display here. Like Hell or High Water, Blood Father is a deceptively simple film with plenty of grit and a great script. Here, the script does a great job of building suspense and unease, but also has an enjoyably dark sense of humor – a perfect fit for Mel's excellent comedic timing. Erin Moriarty, who plays Gibson's daughter, turns in a solid performance, easily holding her own against the veteran actor. There are also strong supporting performances from William H. Macy and Michael Parks. Blood Father is a thoughtful and compelling vengeance movie that elevates the 'Taken genre' to a whole new level.