Dirty Work Afoot—in Space!

Picard, Episodes 1 and 2.
TV Review by Michael Isenberg.

A young woman celebrating with her boyfriend: she got the job!

Side by side on the sofa, they toast her success to the strains of mellow tunes. It all seems perfectly normal.

Then assassins attack.

Three of them in black masks and body armor. They murder the boyfriend with a dagger hurled from across the room. Right in the center of the chest. But when they turn to the young woman, and try to kidnap her, she fights back. A few Kung Fu kicks and flips, some disrupter blasts, and all three attackers are disarmed and unconscious, perhaps dead, in a matter of seconds.

She has no idea how she knew how to do those things. Nor does she know why, finding herself in danger, she feels compelled to seek out Jean-Luc Picard, one time captain of the Starship Enterprise.

Picard, which premiered on CBS All Access last week, finds its title character retired from Starfleet—his departure wasn’t exactly amicable—and living out his golden years on the family vineyard. And while he’s in far better health than Patrick Stewart’s Professor X character in 2017’s Logan, he’s definitely slowing down and dealing with issues of old age. Not the least of which are disturbing nightmares about playing poker with his old colleague Commander Data.

But peaceful retirement is not in the cards for Jean-Luc. Dirty work is afoot. The mystery of the young woman who shows up at his doorstep is just the tip of the iceberg. Docile android workers suddenly snap for no apparent reason and destroy the Mars colony. A cybernetic engineer, who was apparently working on illegally building a copy of Commander Data, has disappeared. And a shady Romulan order, even more secretive than the Tal Shiar, and hitherto thought to be imaginary, has infiltrated the highest levels of Starfleet. Picard is determined to travel the galaxy once again, and get to the bottom of it all. If only he can get a ship.

I have a confession to make. There’s been very little I’ve wanted to see on the streaming services lately. So little that I’ve just been signing up for free trials, binge watching what interested me, and then cancelling before the subscription fees kick in. But I got to say, I’m liking this series. Patrick Stewart puts in a stellar performance as usual, the cinematography of space stations and French countryside is spectacular, and the various mysteries intrigue me. I’m eager to see how all the threads come together.

I may just let my subscription to CBS All Access ride for a while.

Michael Isenberg drinks bourbon and writes novels. His latest book, The Thread of Reason, is a murder mystery that takes place in Baghdad in the year 1092, and tells the story of the conflict between science and shari’ah in medieval Islam. It is available on Amazon.com Please follow Mike on Facebook and Twitter. Subscribe to Nerds who Read via email. The subscription box is in the right hand column, near the top.

The Brave Men, Living and Dead

The Last Full Measure.
Movie Review by Michaela Calabrese.

I was born on April 11, 1997; thirty-one years to the day after Airman William H. Pitsenbarger died in the Vietnam War. Until this film came out, I knew nothing about him. I knew almost nothing about the war at all. I went into The Last Full Measure expecting a film which was…okay. All it had to do was tell a story and keep my interest; maybe make me cry a little from time to time. It did all that.

Then, like Pitsenbarger himself, it went above and beyond.

The story, at its surface, is one we’ve seen a dozen times. A man, Scott Huffman, working for the Department of Defense is tasked with putting together a report which will convince the Powers that Be to upgrade a fallen soldier’s medal from the Air Force Cross to the Medal of Honor. All he has to do is get the right paperwork together; but seeing as the Vietnam War ended decades ago, he doesn’t see the point in putting a ton of effort into his task. That is, until he begins speaking to the men who were there and bore witness to the soldier’s bravery. Suddenly, the man is torn between following through in order to get the soldier the honor he deserves and giving up (as others have done before him) in order to keep his own career ambitions secure.

The writing is not the strongest when it comes to the main character. Sebastian Stan’s performance does a lot to make Scott Huffman likable, even in moments when he’s acting selfish or uninterested. Stan’s facial expressions, delivery, body language, and the “everyman” sense of charm he brings to the role elevates what is, otherwise, lackluster dialogue; creating a character the audience can relate to, cheer for when he’s at his high points, and sympathize with when he hits lows.

I mean it, however, when I say that the above paragraph is a nitpick. Technically, the film looks and sounds absolutely gorgeous. I don’t usually notice sound design, but from the moment the first shots were fired onscreen, I felt every explosion, gunshot, and fall that the characters felt. Nothing was fuzzy or indistinct, the loud noises never got so overwhelming that they overshadowed the action, it was just a perfect balance. The quiet moments are beautiful as well. Some of the strongest scenes are when a character is looking out a window or fighting against an onslaught of emotions. The audience isn’t goaded into feeling with bombastic music or cheesy cues. They’re allowed to sit and contemplate what’s going on in the characters’ minds. I cried multiple times in the theater, and one moment was just out of how powerful one of these quiet little moments was.

Along with Sebastian Stan’s performance, the rest of the cast is exceptional as well. I give a posthumous shout-out to the late Peter Fonda who portrays Jimmy Burr, a character dealing with severe Post Traumatic Stress. He doesn’t play it over the top, like some actors would, but rather very nuanced and tragic. For example, Jimmy sleeps during the day because he’s terrified of the night. He wanders his property at night holding a gun for protection, and he calls Huffman “Sir.” In the hands of the wrong actor, these actions could come off as comical. Fonda never lets it get that far. He plays Jimmy with every ounce of dignity he can muster. It’s clear that Fonda knew how important it was to get Jimmy’s portrayal right, and it’s heartbreaking that he passed away before he could see how his hard work paid off.

Fonda is not the only actor who deserves praise for his portrayal of a veteran. Ed Harris, Samuel L. Jackson, and John Savage all give Oscar-worthy performances which show the multiple ways in which surviving such a bloody war can affect the mind: survivor’s guilt, looking for an escape, trying to temper one’s pain so it doesn’t effect others, etc.

William Hurt deserves his own paragraph. The depth of humanity he displays in The Last Full Measure is the second reason I cried in the theater. Before I knew anything about his character Tully, I thought he would just be a kind figure for Hoffman to turn to. He’d be a bit uninteresting, but he was nice and I didn’t mind having him in the narrative. As soon as he let go and told Hoffman who he really was, everything fell into place. He went from a serviceable but bland side character to one of the reasons I WILL be seeing this movie a second time.

The other side characters do their jobs very well, but they’re not especially dynamic. They’re not meant to be, but it is worth noting. It’s clear that they were written as stand-ins. The government officials are meant to represent how political posturing and agendas can often lead to soldiers being overlooked, the wife is meant to represent what Hoffman has to either fight for or lose, and the son is meant to represent the future generations whom soldiers fight to keep safe. Nobody does a bad job, in fact Alison Sudol and Bradley Whitford are exceptionally charming, but when I remember this film I’ll probably have to google their characters’ names.

Okay, but where does The Last Full Measure really shine? Why did I fall in love with this movie when I’m not usually the sort of person who watches war films?

Well…it’s not a war film.

The Vietnam War is the backdrop for the film because it was the backdrop for the true story. On April 11, 1966, twenty-one-year-old airman William H. Pitsenbarger dropped into a war zone to save the lives of the 1st Infantry Division. He did his job, saved as many wounded as he could, and when he had his chance to get out safely he refused. He stayed behind as his chopper flew away because he knew there were more lives he could save…even though it ultimately cost him his own. He received a posthumous Air Force Cross, but it took over thirty years for him to receive the Medal of Honor. That is what this film is about: Pitsenbarger, and all the other heroes who give their lives for this country even if it means waiting thirty years to be recognized.

Even if it means never being recognized.

“But Mick, did you like the film?”

I loved the film. It’s been years since I’ve truly loved a film so much.

Michaela Calabrese was born and raised in Agawam, MA and is now living her dream of studying filmmaking in New York City. Her graduate program has offered her the chance to direct a twelve-minute short film which will be screened for industry professionals. Please give your generous support to the project at GoFundMe.com.

Subscribe to Nerds who Read via email. The subscription box is in the right hand column, near the top.

A Perfectly Serviceable Film

A Boomer and a Gen-Zer take on Dolittle.

The Boomer Review.
By Cecilia Calabrese.

There are three types of movie audiences that will love this movie. The rest of you, not so much.

The first type of audience would be those with children. My first experience with Dr. Dolittle was the year that the version with Rex Harrison in the titular role was released. I loved it! My fog of nostalgia makes me believe that the Harrison Dolittle was well-received and universally loved. In reality such was not the case. In monetary terms Rex didn’t prove to be the U.S. box office draw that the movie studio had hoped he would be. But, to 8-year old me, it didn’t matter. I loved it then as I still love it today. Who goes to see a movie about an eccentric that talks to animals for reality anyway? Children will relate to the animals very well. It’s almost a shame that the newest version wasn’t released a few months before the December holidays. A huge monetizing opportunity may have been missed by the timing of its release mid-January. There are hints throughout the way that suggests a sequel (or two?) may be in the offing such as was done with the Eddie Murphy version. Time will tell. Dr. Dolittle was always meant to tug at the heart strings and imagination of children. This version hits the mark. If you have children, take them to see this movie and don’t miss the opportunity to talk to your kids about what may be going on in their lives that you may not realize. In particular, pay close attention to which animal your children identify with the most. There could be a real opportunity for revelation there. Sorry-didn’t mean to get so “deep.”

Which brings me to the second type of audience that will love this movie: the Escapists. Dolittle allows you to check reality at the theater door, grab a popcorn and drink, and enjoy the movie for the pure enjoyment of watching a well-told story unfold. The interaction among the human and animal characters feels so natural it made me long for the ability to talk to my cat! The movie made me suspect that maybe my cat understands me just as much as I understand her. By their very nature, animals are instinctive and seek ways to communicate, cross-species. Honestly, how many of us come home from a long day at the office or school and don’t unburden ourselves with long chats with our fur babies? Without getting too philosophical about communication skills among various types of fauna, if you want to see a movie that is just pure joy to watch, you will love Dolittle.

The third type of audience that will love this movie is the Robert Downey, Jr. fandom. He has been one of my Hollywood heartthrobs since I saw him in the movie Chances Are (released in 1989). RDJ has a breadth of talent that some people may not realize if your only exposure to him is in the MCU as Iron Man. I do not pretend to be an expert in authentic speech patterns, but he speaks in a Scottish accent that nearly is lilting. His voice and facial expressions are two qualities that set him apart, in my eyes, from other Leading Men. As Dr. Dolittle, he is almost animatronic in a natural way. His body movements must be difficult to replicate because I just cannot imagine another version of Dr. Dolittle being as convincingly performed as Robert Downey, Jr’s.

If you do not fall into one of the three types of movie audiences I have described, you may find yourself being unfairly harsh in your own review of this movie. It isn’t preachy (which I find most appealing). However, you may find yourself learning lessons you didn’t realized you could use. It’s not a musical, thankfully. It’s not “deep” and brooding. It’s not historical.

What Dolittle is: it’s timeless. I usually do not enjoy the re-telling, and re-telling again of familiar movies (A Star Is Born, for example). But this one I loved. I hope we do get a sequel or two, but not more than that. If this movie theme is beaten too often it will lose its appeal. But I did leave the movie theater wanting more. And, oh, by the way…THAT’S NOT A SQUID!

Cecilia Calabrese is the Vice President of the Agawam City Council and will serve as President of the Massachusetts Municipal Association in 2020. She is a licensed attorney in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as well as a Registered Dental Hygienist, and a rental property manager. Married to her husband, Michael Calabrese, for 34 years, they have two grown children, Charles and Michaela Calabrese.

Cece has written featured articles in the Valley Advocate (Tom Duggan, Editor), as well as various Opinion pieces in The Springfield Republican and The Agawam Advertiser News. She is currently on the pre-production crew for daughter Michaela’s graduate film project. Please give your generous support to the project at GoFundMe.com.

---

The Gen Z Review.
By Michaela Calabrese.

Dolittle is a perfectly serviceable film, if you’re the type of person who asks for little more from a film than to just be entertaining. It isn’t deep, it isn’t particularly complex, it’s not part of a larger story, it’s just…Dolittle. It doesn’t try to be anything more, and I respect that.

The history of Doctor Dolittle films very much parallels the backstory of this incarnation’s main character. A rough start in the Sixties eventually led to a period of success in the late Nineties and early Two Thousands; but that success eventually soured and turned to near-obscurity. Audience members who saw the Eddie Murphy version in theaters probably remember those films fondly; but anyone who was either too young or too old to enjoy them when they came out most likely don’t think much of them.

The same goes for the 1967 Rex Harrison original. In talking with my mother, who was eight years old when the Harrison film was released, I learned that at the time she thought the film had done well. She had fun with it. Why shouldn’t a cute movie about talking animals be successful?

Well, I won’t go into much detail, but let’s just say money is easier to lose than it is to make.

This newest version of Dolittle falls somewhere between Harrison and Murphy. It’s not a musical like the Harrison version, but Dolittle is still British and the plot revolves (partially) around finding a way to cure the unnamed Queen Victoria stand-in of a mysterious illness. The story keeps itself open to possible sequels like the Murphy version, but also works as a stand-alone with a solid beginning, middle, and end.

But what about Dolittle himself? I think the best way to describe him is a blend of childishness, gentleness, stubbornness, and inner pain. Think Peter Pan if he’d allowed himself to grow up (kind of like the film Hook). Dolittle isn’t very social with people, but thrives when working with animals. He even considers them his family. He’s gentle and patient (especially with the neurotic but lovable gorilla Chi Chi) and rarely lets his temperament get the better of him. With people, it’s a different story. A tragedy from his past leads him to shut himself off from the world and reject the company of humans. He only begrudgingly lets them into his life when he’s literally given no other choice.

That being said, he never comes across as unlikable. The audience is made to understand early on that he is very good-natured and kind. He’s just been hurt so deeply that he never wants to feel that pain again. He wants to hide from it and live out his days with his animals; and he bristles when his comfortable solitude is interrupted. Once a human comes along and proves that it is worth rejoining Society, however, Dolittle allows his views to be challenged and acquiesces to the idea that he can’t keep his back turned on the people who need him anymore.

Let’s talk technicals. They’re…fine. The cinematography is fine, the CGI is fine, it’s all…fine. Nothing stands out as really good or really terrible, it’s all sort of middle-of-the-road. I’m not bothered by that as much as other people may be. The story is good enough that I can overlook a few less-than-stellar effects. If you can’t, and CGI that isn’t exactly realistic bothers you, then maybe don’t see this movie.

Essentially, if you’re going to complain that the movie about a man who can talk to animals isn’t realistic enough, don’t buy a ticket to the movie about a man who can talk to animals.

What I’ll leave on is this: in my opinion, it’s perfectly alright for a movie to just be perfectly alright. In this day and age, when it seems like everything is a blockbuster, box office titan, franchise, or big-budget epic, movies like Dolittle are refreshing in their simplicity. It’s a tidy little fairytale that I wouldn’t mind showing my future children; and if you can sit back, turn your brain off for an hour and forty-six minutes, and let yourself have fun, then I highly recommend giving it a chance.

Michaela Calabrese was born and raised in Agawam, MA and is now living her dream of studying filmmaking in New York City. Her graduate program has offered her the chance to direct a twelve-minute short film which will be screened for industry professionals. Please give your generous support to the project at GoFundMe.com.

Subscribe to Nerds who Read via email. The subscription box is in the right hand column, near the top.

The Law's Embodiment

House of Assassins by Larry Correia.
Book Review by Michael Isenberg.

The Law is the true embodiment,
Of everything that's excellent,
It has no kind of fault or flaw,
And I, my Lords, embody the Law.
          –W.S. Gilbert, Iolanthe (1882).

The quotation would no doubt have resonated with Ashok Vadal, hero of Larry Correia’s sword and sorcery thriller House of Assassins. Or at least it would have if 1) Gilbert and Sullivan had existed in Lok, the magic land that is the setting of the book and 2) Ashok would ever do anything so frivolous and out of character as attend an operetta.

We first met Ashok in 2016’s Son of the Black Sword the first installment in Correia’s Saga of the Forgotten Warrior. Powerful, skilled, and literally fearless, armed with the magic black sword Angruvadal, and single-mindedly devoted to upholding the Law (always capitalized), Ashok is ideally suited to his role as a Protector—member of the elite order of warriors whose sacred trust is to kill the most dangerous rebels and criminals of Lok, not to mention the occasional demon that emerges from the ocean to terrorize coastal towns.

Alas, Ashok has a fall from grace. The Grand Inquisitor—for mysterious reasons of his own—sentences him to join a rebellion of Lok’s untouchables—the Casteless—and protect its leader—the prophet of Forgotten gods in a land where all religion is prohibited. To become a criminal, in the service of criminals, is pure torture for a dedicated servant of the Law like Ashok. The irony of his punishment is palpable. And yet, along the way, he begins to suspect that the Law is not as infallible as he once believed.

House of Assassins, which won the 2019 Dragon Award for Best Fantasy Novel, picks up where Son of the Black Sword left off. The prophet has been kidnapped by the shadowy wizards of the Lost House and Ashok and his companions must set off on an epic quest to discover its location and rescue the prophet. Along the way they encounter vengeful gangsters, suspicious customs agents, bitter Protectors determined to bring to the justice the man who brought disgrace to their order, and demons far larger and more numerous than Ashok has ever encountered before. Not to mention the treacherous, shapeshifting assassins of the Lost House itself, who are determined to kill Ashok and add the power of the prophet’s magic to their own. And for the first time since he was a child, Ashok must face danger without the powerful blade Angruvadal in his hands.

There is plenty of action, some unexpected twists, and a host of memorable supporting characters. My favorite was Gutch, a smuggler of magical artifacts, who we first meet in Son of the Black Sword, where he was locked up in the same prison as Ashok. His facetious attitude toward his own criminality makes him a perfect foil for the grim former Protector of the Law. But this brief passage from House of Assassins captures the character far better than anything I could write about him. In this scene, Gutch is reunited with Ashok—who doesn’t remember him. But Gutch takes no offense:

“Well, you were a bit more memorable than me, what with all the killings. Place got a lot safer after you arrived, once the uppity sorts became afraid to draw your ire. I did enjoy watching your many duels through a crack in the wall of my cell. Entertainment helped pass the time. As for me? Old Gutch prefers to stay out of the way and not cause trouble.” “Since you’re too large of stature to avoid notice—an unfortunate trait for one who has chosen a life of crime—instead you play dumb and friendly so no one takes you as a threat.” They were far enough from the fire that Ashok could only barely see his features, but it was obvious Gutch’s forced smile had died. As Jagdish warned, this one was smarter than he looked. Then Gutch chuckled. “Dumb, I take some exception to, and I don’t pretend to be friendly. I truly like everyone, General. I just like them better when they’re not informing on me. As the Law says, a man must recognize his place. My favorite place is outside the view of those in your former profession.”

An entertaining character, but then, House of Assassins is an entertaining book. Check it out (Read Son of the Black Sword first if you haven’t already). The ending promises more entries in the Saga of the Forgotten Warrior series in the future. I look forward to reading them.

Interesting Sidebar—I actually made a small contribution to this book (I assume it’s this book), in a backward sort of way. Around three years ago I posted a pet peeve to a Facebook fiction group, “Attention writers,” I wrote. “Please search your manuscripts and replace ‘It's complicated’ and ‘It's a long story’ every time they appear.”

My post was not well received by the authors in the group in general and Mr. Correia in particular. He replied, “Just to be contrary, I stuck both of those phrases into my current manuscript extra times…Any time somebody gives me some ‘rule’ of writing I go out of my way to violate it in a massively bestselling novel.”

Michael Isenberg drinks bourbon and writes novels. His latest book, The Thread of Reason, is a murder mystery that takes place in Baghdad in the year 1092, and tells the story of the conflict between science and shari’ah in medieval Islam. It is available on Amazon.com Please follow Mike on Facebook and Twitter. Photo credit(s): Amazon.com