WHAT A WONDERFUL WEEK!
The inauguration of Joe Biden as U.S. President and Kamala Harris as Vice-President was marvelous and memorable in so many ways. A reset in tone, a return to competence, a series of firsts, and the beginning of an administration more representative in gender, race, background, and experience than the previous one. Hooray!
ON THE SCREEN
SPACE EXPLORATION MEETS EARTH’S FRAGILITY
The Midnight Sky (Netflix)
George Clooney both directs and stars in this film about Augustine, a terminally ill scientist holed up at an Arctic Circle outpost. Simultaneously, a team in space is trying to return from an exoplanet, but there’s been a catastrophe on earth.
There’s another story within the story about the young Augustine and a failed relationship that overlaps the present when a little girl is inadvertently left behind with him. The visual effects are amazing, the space station elaborate, and the sense of hurtling through the universe quite real.
Given the risks faced by the astronauts, it’s surprisingly unsuspenseful and too slow moving. Nonetheless, we watched it to the end and were rewarded with a slight twist which brings everything together. Overall okay, not great.
HEAVY METAL VS. DISTORTED SOUND
Sound of Metal (Amazon Prime)
This film about a drummer in a heavy metal band who is losing his hearing can be painful, painful for the ears. The entire film is captioned (for good reasons) and, the soundtrack sometimes is distorted and muffled as it conveys how Ruben experiences the world around him. Initially refusing to accept his situation, but nudged by his girlfriend Lou, Ruben reluctantly agrees to become a resident of a deaf community. I found this portion of the film with all of the sign language fascinating and an insightful look at how deaf culture can work. Riz Ahmed, a British Pakistani actor, is superb taking on the challenging role of Ruben. Recommended!
ON THE PAGE
MYSTERY FUELED BY PODCAST
Conviction by Denise Mina
This was my first exposure to this author. I selected it for my book group because it was touted as one of the year’s best mysteries by the Washington Post, NYT Book Review, and Publishers Weekly. It’s a quirky book and much of the way, I didn’t much like it. But several in the group loved it.
Anna McDonald’s husband leaves her for her best friend. Devastated, she becomes obsessed with a true crime podcast that concerns a man, Leon Parker, whom she once knew slightly. Leon died when a yacht he and his family were on exploded. Convinced that not all is true or right with the podcast, Anna goes on a quest to find answers. She is joined by her neighbor Fin, a failed musician and her friend’s husband.
They fly hither and thither across Europe checking out stories and interviewing possible relatives and suspects. All the while Fin is creating podcasts in response to the original one. Anna is not who she has claimed to be, and her multiple identities unravel as they get deeper into their research.
IN THE PAN
RECIPE REVIEW
(bonappetit.com)
Since the start of the pandemic, the Chief Penguin and I have eaten many more meals at home. That’s meant a reprise of favorite entrees from the past plus trotting out new dishes to try. Most recently, I cooked this chicken puttanesca from the February 2021 issue of Bon Appetit.
It’s fairly straightforward in that chicken legs or thighs (I used boneless thighs) are browned on the stove and then transferred in a skillet to the oven. It combines some of my favorite ingredients: olives (black ones for us), capers, lemon zest, and tomato, with garlic and anchovies, to make a dish that’s greater than the sum of its parts. The flavor is robustly bold and deeply satisfying. I served it over egg noodles dressed with a bit of butter and some truffle oil. A definite keeper, I will make it again. Bon appetit!
Note: Header photo of Kamala Harris taking the oath of office from wionews.com
Wednesday was an emotional day for me! I watched the inauguration events on an iPad from the ICU where I was staying with 14-year-old son Christopher, desperately ill with Covid-19. I wept while I watched Kamala’s swearing in. And then again at Joe’s “so help me God.”
I feel hope for our country.
Agreed re “Midnight Sky;” I spent most of the movie wondering where the plot was going. The twist at the end was mildly interesting but produced little more than, “huh, well alrighty then.”
Will check out “Heavy Metal” thanks for the recommendation!