Nope, didn’t watch a single game. And didn’t read any children’s books. Here is what I imbibed instead.
Movies:
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. Hated the title; loved the performances and was with the plot for almost the whole movie. I did see Frances McDormand play this part better in Olive Kitteridge, however. B+
Murder on the Orient Express. I never saw the first one and have never finished an Agatha Christie novel. Pretty but talky. I must have snoozed during a crucial moment as I felt lost during the entire second half. C+
God’s Own Country. Clearly a corrective to Brokeback Mountain, set on a Yorkshire sheep farm, and with a happy ending. A few of those, I guess. B
T2 Trainspotting. I don’t know how I missed this in the theater, as I am a big fan of the original movie and you’d think I would have spotted this sequel. Loved it (but was happy for the captions) and I admire how it ended with reasonable optimism without feeling cheap. Great soundtrack. A-
Books:
Not My Father’s Son. Alan Cumming’s memoir of his abusive father, honest and funny but burdened with a framing device (he’s making a TV show about his ancestry) that adds artificial suspense to the story and/or makes him seem extremely full of himself. C+
The Murder of Mary Russell. Do I need to read this series in order? I do enjoy wandering into the Holmes universe at random. B
Kristin Lavransdatter. Once I got into it, I really got into it. Best accompanied by Norwegian train videos. A
About Roger Sutton
I am a lifelong Agatha Christie nut, but I agree with you Roger that this film was mediocre. Nobody can ever touch David Suchet anyway. BILLBOARDS is also losing steam with me the more I think about it. I did think GOD’S OWN COUNTRY was excellent, and thought T2 a solid effort.
Over the weekend I saw what may well be the film of the year, CALL ME BY YOUR NAME (neck and neck with the Emily Dickinson biopic A QUIET PASSION) for #1 and another very strong work, THE DARKEST HOUR with the most magnificent male lead performance by Gary Oldman as Churchill.