H'mmm...

Perhaps this explains why most of the people I hang out with are in their twenties.

You Act Like You Are 23 Years Old

You are a twentysomething at heart. You feel like an adult, and you're optimistic about life. You feel excited about what's to come... love, work, and new experiences. You're still figuring out your place in the world and how you want your life to shape up. The world is full of possibilities, and you can't wait to explore many of them.

What Age Do You Act?

Reading I-III

I) Reginald Hill, The Death of Dalziel (2007)

I'd forgotten this existed until a stray comment in a year end round up about Rebus, ah, yes, a column by Mark Bloody Lawson (and maybe I'd not read a review of it in The Guardian by Mark Bloody Lawson which led to the erasure). But there it was, second hand, and I pounced.

Dalziel and Pascoe are outside a suspected terrorist cell's base when there is an explosure, severely injuring Dalziel. Pascoe, not too well himself, muscles in on the investigation and the secret service, as someone seems to be giving Muslims a taste of medieval justice. As always Hill writes in shades of moral greys, as Pascoe channels the spirit and behaviour of his cruder, lewder, darker boss. A gripping read.

II) Ron Hansen, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (1981)

2008 is shaping up to be the year of the western, so ahead of seeing the film I thought I'd grab this when I spotted it in an Oxfam. My knowledge of nineteenth century US history is shakey - I can pin the Civil War to the 1860s, but that's about it. I know of James as an outlaw, with a gang, but how he fits in with Billy the Kid and/or the OK Corral, well, who knows. I don't know whether this is hagiography or revisionising of the death of James and whether I should be annoyed that the title gave the ending away. Curiously distant.

III) John Connolly, Every Dead Thing (1999)

Ex-New York cop Charlie Parker is still reeling from the brutal murder of his wife and daughter. His private investigations seem to be connecting him back to the murders, a connection made more solid by phonecalls from the killer taunting him. Body counts mount up, in and out the New York and New Orleans organised crime communities, missing persons turn up dead, and he always seems a step behind.

I enjoyed it, even if I'm pondering the sort of company he was keeping, and even if the answer to whodunnit was a bit of a cheat. I also ponder how this can be a series character when it feels that the character is tapped out, psychologically speaking. Guilt, I guess.

A present from abrinsky, probably about five years back.

Films I and II

Both courtesy of the Sofa Cinema:

I Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, Intacto (2001)

Ah, this is what he did before 28 Weeks Later. I wasn't really in the mood for subtitles - at risk of dozing off - so this was probably more enigmatic than intended: a thriller about luck as a quality that can be abosrbed and stolen or given. A thief and air crash survivor is sought for his undoubted good fortune in a act of revenge aimed at a concentration camp survivor who runs a casino (Max Von Sydow). Best film I've seen all year...

II Susannah Grant, Catch and Release (2007)

Yes, this made the list because I like Kevin Smith. I wonder how many people sniggered when they saw him in hockey shirts bearing the number 37? Not my parents, and I thought it politic to explain.

This is a touching romantic comedy: Jennifer Garner's fiance has died, and Kevin Smith, Sam Kaeger and boyfriend's best friend Timothy Olyphant help her come to terms with her loss. In particular she is devastated to discover that her fiance has been paying maintenance money to Juliette Lewis, who has a small child in tow. It's clearly a chick flcik, and Smith rather steals his scenes - I wonder if he was allowed to improvise? - although he remains a tad hit and miss as an actor.

Intacto remains film of the year...

Housekeeping:

I intend to keep count, and maybe to separate out DVDs, Tv movies and cinema visits. However, alongside the Hitchcock boxsets I have 100 Laurel and Hardy films, most of which are shorts. I plan to watch these in chronological order - and ignore the colorized version. Since this means watching the DVDs in the order 12, 21, 7, 8, 8, 10, 12, 12, 12, 15, 16, 16 [etc] this will involve creating counting (and giving up). Next film will likely be either Champagne or Desk Set.

I have a catch up post of films watched in 2007 and not written about yet.

Totals: 2 [Cinema: 0; DVD: 2; TV: 0]