True Detective Season 2, Episodes 3 & 4: Review

Eliot: You must have had hundreds of lives.

Ray: I don’t think I could handle another one.

 


        Well, after all my ranting about Ray being dead I kind of feel like a douche right now. Thanks for that Pizzolatto. Anyway I guess by now you know that Velcoro is alive and well. The thing is I’m not quite sure how to feel about it – on one hand, I’m glad that (for me personally) the best character stays on the show, but on the other hand I feel like I was fucked over by it. He was shot point blank with a shotgun TWICE and come the next episode it’s all good, turns out it was just riot bullets. What I personally think is that was just a cheap trick to get the neutral viewer to keep watching a bit more of the slow-paced action in the next episodes until the story finally gets its momentum going (which I believe finally happened in episode four). But let me start chronologically.

             Episode 3

                It all starts with kind of a purgatory scene where we see Ray talking to his father in a bar with a suspiciously flashy cowboys singing “The Rose” by Bette Midler. It’s kind of extremely trashy and touching at the same time. Before we are revealed what has actually happened to him we have to endure a good 60 seconds of intense screen time in which we are clearly shown what the show would miss if there in fact were real bullets in that shotgun. Anyway, I would rather be happy about Velcoro staying in the show than concentrate on the fact how clumsily the death/resurrection was done, because Colin Farrell is doing such a fantastic job with the character. And that goes as well for all of the lead actors to such an extent that I find myself recalling the names of their characters than of the performers themselves. And that is definitely saying something. Vaughn is outdoing himself with every scene he is in. In this particular episode he starts off a bit “limp” and ends up with a pocket full of golden teeth. And we love every second of it. As a second death, on Franks side of the table is revealed he is being pushed back into the dirty business that he had cleansed himself of in events prior to the pilot. It is very interesting watching his transformation as Vaughn does not necessarily have a threatening vibe about him, and seeing at the end of the episode exactly why everyone would rather not step on his toes is quite intense. And it also raises the question of who would be bold enough to be purposefully doing it by killing off his men and his finances. Kitsch and McAdams are also very impressive, especially with McAdams putting up more of a serious and respectable face, instead of her “I hate everything” attitude from the first episode. We also get a nice glimpse at Kitsch’s Paul Woodrugh inner demons, which surprisingly enough contain a gay war experience, wouldn’t you have guessed. Ani on the other hand continues to bond with Ray, which is yet another point in which the plot-line seems to thicken, as they are both being turned against each other by their respectful departments.

Episode 4

In this one we see Frank taking over some more of his old businesses in order to stabilize his financial situation. We are also let even further into his marital bed and get to know more about his relationship with his wife Jordan (Kelly Reilly). We have seen Frank’s “softer” side before in the show, but I hadn’t brought it up until now. It is obvious nothing means more to Frank than his beloved, but it is not something that makes him appear weak or too sensitive. It is more of a “you complete me” thing, but a little less romantic. What intrigues me more is the relationship between Frank and Ray – I still can’t wrap my head around it and the main reason is they seem to completely trust each other, which in their situation is a bit weird (not only being on opposite sides, but being a mobster and a dirty cop, neither of which is trustworthy on paper). I am looking forward to seeing a bit more about their past as a team, especially when it obviously has something to do with revenge for Velcoro’s wife (the bitch!). In the episode we also get a first real moment between Ray and Paul in which (for me – somewhat surprisingly) it is revealed that Velcoro actually has a lot of respect for his younger colleague. The thing is – I still feel like there is some connection between Ray, Ani and Frank and that somehow the killings are a part of something big that all three of them are tangled up in and Paul kind of just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Finally in this episode we get a lead suspect on the killing of Ben Caspere and that leads to the best part of the season so far – a brutal shooting between police forces that just leave you breathless in its savage and raw speed. It seems that the shit has finally hit the fan! And the next episode should hopefully reveal more on what exactly we were waiting for. All I can say is if the plot turns out to match the perfectly written living breathing personalities (the main characters are so good and believable that the word “character” is not exactly suitable to describe them) the writers have depicted and we, as viewers, are in for one hell of a ride. 

~G

Fangirl: Book Reviews #2

 - I really liked it

"Fangirl is a deliciously warm-hearted nerd power ballad destined for greatness."

     If you like gingerbread lattes, hilarious nerd references and Harry Potter, and you consider yourself as a nerd (even slightly), this one is for you. The main reason I enjoyed this book enormously is because I found absolutely everything in it relevant to my own personal experience. It is just crazy. It is the story of Cath, an eighteen years old girl who is terrified to go to university and hides her fears in writing, in expressing herself through the things she love. Writing is the one part of her life that makes sense. In one of her classes in college, her professor asks them Why do we write fiction?, and Cath thinks to herself To disappear. She is scared of everything - making friends, going to her classes, even eating in the dinning hall  so she does the one thing that makes her feel safe - writing fan-fiction about Simon Snow. It is a made up series that seriously resembles Harry Potter. I don't know if Rainbow Rowell had this in mind, in particular, and I don't care, but that is what it felt to me and I really enjoyed it.

     Another matter that I wanted to point out to, were the funny nerd references she made throughout the whole novel. They cracked me up so much. When I think about her coming here, she said, it is like that scene in the Fellowship of the Ring when the hobbits are hiding from the Nazgul. That is my personal favorite, really relevant (she is talking about the mother who left her when she was eight, coming to visit them). Everything in this book is built up with nerd power. That is the main idea that I enjoyed it so much. I have missed Harry Potter for a very long time, and at the same time, I love reading contemporary, everyday novels. But Fangirl is a great mixture of them two. On the one hand, you have the mundane problems that everyone can relate to and on the other, the magical world where you can escape. It is a brilliant idea, someone should have thought of it earlier. 
      As a whole, the characters were very believable and empathetic, most of them. I found Wren, Cath's twin sister, quite annoying and frankly stupid. Besides her, they were all lovable, especially Levi and Cath's father, Art. The connection she had with her father was sweet and loving and it made me all mushy and teary. The only irrelevant thing, for me anyway, were her boy problems. Cath was really inexperienced and I get that, but some of the things she thought and did were genuinely foolish. At first I thought she would go for Nick, her writing buddy, and was actually surprised by the turn of events. Also, her relationship with her roommate, Reagan, was hilarious. I love how bad-ass and down-to-earth she is. 
    Most importantly, this book thought me that pushing through your comfort zone is very important in life. I slightly already learned that myself by going through first year of university, but Cath also gave me a very valuable lesson. Her father was ill and she still pushed through university. She was so desperate, without any ideas about her story, but she did it anyway. It was four months late, with thousands excuses and delays, but she succeeded. And won. So, girls and boys, even if there seems to be no light in the tunnel, just keep pushing and you will triumph. 
~I.

Top Ten Tuesday #7

In today's Top Ten Tuesday I am featuring the last ten books that came into our possession (whether they were bought or taken from the library)  

Ilina's picks

1. Harry Potter box-set - When I finished uni this year and found more time to indulge in books so I decided that it is unforgivable that I do not own my favorite books of all time. I ordered the first one of the series - I wanted to re-read it immediately. Biggest mistake of my life - when I ordered the second and third ones, they were different editions. How unbelievably irritating is this?

2.  A Dance with Dragons is another book from my favorites that I did not own before. Not much more to explain, I just cannot stand the thought of not having one of my beloved books around.

3.  We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves - review here where you will find the story behind its purchase.  

4. Sex and the City - Amazing TV show but not so brilliant book. Still I wanted to give it a go because I absolutely love the characters. Maybe I should write a review on it and the show?

5. The Name of the Rose - a rather spontaneous purchase. I did not know anything about the book, but have heard the title as it is famous. I was only 1 pound at a book sale and I thought 'why not, you can't go wrong with almost any book'. 

6. To Kill a Mockingbird - I have been dying to get a hold of this book for years. I seem to be the only living person to not have read it. I am currently on it and loving it so far, beware of a passionate review.

7. Fangirl - Just got it the other day and started reading it immediately. I have heard so much praise for it and I can understand it now - it is very heart-warming and the nerd references in it are making me laugh out load every time.

George's picks

8. Misery - Being the biggest Stephen King fan you will ever meet, it was fairly surprising that he hadn't read one of his most famous books. We bought it for him as a present and he loved it, maybe we will start a Book vs. Film series with this one.

9. Alex Ferguson: My Autobiography - As the crazy football fan that he is, he couldn't resist the urge to peek into the mind of probably the best football manager there ever was.

10. The Hypnotist - I gave this one to him because I had the impression he like creepy, weird novels and this one is exactly the case. He did not go through with it though, but he is not the biggest book person.

Do you own any of these books and what do you think of them?

The Imitation Game: Film Reviews #5

Alan Turing: Was I God? No. Because God didn't win the war. We did.



        A calculated risk. What does that mean to you personally? Perhaps it is the point when you decide to to buy a 2$ lottery ticket because the chance of winning a huge pile of money (as slim as it is) completely outruns the investment you made. But would you be able to sacrifice 1 000 lives in order to safe 1 000 000? Would making that choice deprive you as a human being? Would you consider yourself a God?
        It may not seem like it, but deep down these are the questions that The Imitation Game implants in your brain, it forces you to consider if you have what it takes the be great. Are you paying attention? breathes Cumberbatch's character in the opening scene and you find that you can hardly do anything else but listen closely. The film is exceptionally gripping, especially in the beginning, and it makes you forget about the world around you.I am not going to dwell on the plot itself that much, it is merely a setting upon which Benedict Cumberbatch did the performance of a lifetime. He is so outstanding as the mathematician Alan Turing that it made me forget how much I hate his stupid name and how unbelievably irritating he was. The way he is able to play a person so deprived from most basic human emotions is simply out of this world. And by saying most emotions I should probably explain myself - the one he is not missing is love (not required, unfortunately) which adds an odd spin to the character and brings him closer  to the viewer. 
       The rest of the cast does a tremendous job as well, in particular Kiera Knightley, exceptionally depicting the friend or sort of love interest of Turing - Joan Clarke. Bringing much needed warmth and humor to the plot, she quickly wins the viewers' hearts as the only woman around her fellows, breaking the code faster than all of them. She is honest and direct and becomes the needed wall for Alan to bounce off his stupid ideas of - in the end of the day we all need someone to put some sense into us.he rest of the all-British ensemble fits together effortlessly and really breathes life into this WW II drama.
       In conclusion, I would strongly recommend this film to anyone who has a heart for it. It is an honestly touching story of a hero that was never recognized and praised in his time, but has directly played a role in saving millions of lives. It is unfair and frankly heart-breaking to come to grips with how brutal "different" men were treated when all they ever did was devote their lives to the country. In the end, all they got was misery and depression when in fact they should have been the ones to celebrate the most. Makes you wonder, doesn't it?

Joan Clarke: Do you know, this morning I was on a train that went through a city that wouldn't exist if it wasn't for you. I bought a ticket from a man who would likely be dead if it wasn't for you. Now, if you wish you could have been normal... I can promise you I do not.

Holiday Reads #2

The time has come for me to pack the suitcases, put on the heart-shaped sunglasses and take a ride to the seaside. Finally! Logically, it is time for another update on what I would enjoy reading while placidly chilling on the beach. (my first post - here) The books I will feature are rather girly so I apologize to every boy/man who comes across this (unless you enjoy sipping Cosmopolitans and reading chick flicks in which case I already love you and you should be my best friend). 

Now, I would never consider this kind of books my ultimate favorite but they are definitely quite refreshing when you are light-headed and need a bit of a break. If I have to be honest, I actually despise romantic novels, Nicholas Spaks' being the worst of them all, but I guess some of my picks would be the exception that proves the rule. I don't like being particularly engaged with a book while I am supposed to be resting as I usually don't spend that much time reading on a holiday. See, if I bring A Song of Ice and Fire book with me I would probably bring it around in restaurants and clubs (think I have actually already done that...). On the other hand, I always appreciate a well-written and entertaining novel and there is always a much higher chance to stumble upon a rather disappointing one if you pick it by the title and how girly it sounds.  
So, as you can probably tell, they are all stories about either love or clothes (shopping, in particular). I really don't have an enormous opinion on them as they are not very famous (except The Devil Wears Prada which everyone has heard of). There are some truly positive reviews on The Confessions of a Shopaholic and Anna and the French Kiss - book-tubers mainly say that they are both very funny and relatable which is all I really need on hot day near the pool. Can you tell that I am immensely excited about my holiday?
Are you going on one and do you know if all these books are suitable for my purpose as well as enjoyable? 

Top Ten Tuesday #6

Top Ten Hyped Books I've Never Read

hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

I really enjoyed today's topic because, like most normal people, I have a bigger 'to-read' list than 'read' or 'currently reading'. I can use this post as my future ultimate wish-list.

Ilina' s picks:

Watching book-tubers and reading book blogs is not always a good idea. I always end up spending way much more money than I usually do. "Fangirl" is probably the one I want to read most - as far as I know it has something to do with Harry Potter and as you probably know I am going through an obsession with it at the moment. "Gone Girl" I will probably never read as I've already seen the film. Although I know it is really good, I just cannot be bothered - I am pretty sure it is exactly the same as the film. "Percy Jackson" seems like a favorite series of everyone I come across to, but it seems a bit childish for me, I might be wrong though. "To Kill a Mockingbird" and "The Book Thief" are both books I have owned for ages but still haven't dug into them. I just know they are always there for me and can wait a little bit longer.

George's picks (which could easily be mine as well)

How many of these books have you read and do you think they are worth the hype? 

True Detective Season 2, Episode 2: Review

Ray: Am I supposed to solve this [case] or not?

 

                SPOILERS AHEAD!

                WTFWTFWTFWTFWTFWTFWTF?!?!??!?! This was actually my ending note for the second True Detective episode. They actually went this far, killing what was supposed to be the leading character, fan favorite and by far the most interesting character so far! And only two episodes in!? Jesus, what would follow this? 

               Okay, I postponed saying, just in case someone did not believe the spoiler warning sign, but Colin Farrell’s Ray Velcoro got shot twice with a fucking shotgun, the second shot being point blank! I would say shock is a pretty good word to describe what I was feeling looking at myself in my screen’s reflection when the ending credits started rolling. Especially with the slow tempo of everything that happened prior to that last shot – questioning, some character interaction; it was all kind of slow politics and some ballsy power moves coming from Vaughn’s Frank Semyon (who it seems has been fucked out of several million dollars). Anyway, this potential death, and I’m saying potential, because there is a lot of media speculation that the character may yet live, would definitely turn the show on its head. Most of the series’ fan base reacted in a negative manner – “How could the best character die so early on?”, but I have a slightly different opinion (and trust me, I already miss Ray). My take on this is – the second season needs to separate itself from the first one or else I fear it is just doomed to live in its shadow. So far I have seen a fantastic performance by Farrell, good enough by Vaughn and somewhat lacking by McAdams and Kitsch. And this potential death is what could kick-start the season – throw us straight into the action with all of its twists and turns, even if it is by sacrificing its possibly main character. 

              There are a lot of comments on Ray actually surviving the shooting, like the fact that it was announced that Farrell has signed for eight episodes, or that there have been pictures of the character where he was shooting scenes that we are yet to see, but we can’t know anything for sure before the next episode. At the moment, as far as I’m concerned – Ray Velcoro is dead! How could he not be after those shots? 

             To comment on other significant scenes in the episode – Kitschs’ character (Paul) seems to be getting some momentum going after a great performance in this episode. All in all – the show is speeding up, shit is starting to hit fans with every further step into the story we take. I might remind you that there were opinions on the first 3-4 episodes of season one being slow, but it was all just masked by quintessential performances by Harrelson and McConaughey. So we wait and hope for the best (and miss Cary Fukunaga soooo muuuuuch) and I’m sure the show will deliver all that we have come to expect from it.

                R.I.P. (?) Ray Velcoro