Jacob Reidt

Cranky Diatribe, Jun 23 2004

I like Sarah Vowell. I've enjoyed her pieces on 'This American Life', read her other books, and even saw her at a live reading when she came to town. I didn't like this book though, and here, I guess, is where book ratings can become pretty arbitrary. It wasn't some glaring deficiency of prose style or structure that tipped me over the edge. "It's just that, ultimately, she's whiny" (her own criticism of Alanis Morissette coming dangerously close to home). This is a book where nothing is safe. And if you're an individual that thinks that you have been deeply wronged by the world, most likely because it doesn't kowtow to your every quirky interest, leading you to cope by saying… Read more

Fun Family Film, Jun 22 2004

Again, I run into a problem with amazon's rating system. This movie was better than 'OK' (three stars), so I give it four - but then it lumps itself in with other films I've given four stars, and this one wasn't quite as good (i.e., He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not). So, I'd say three and half stars, which rounds up to four in this case. Why? Well, the ending was a little sappy. I guess it was intending to show that the stories were valid, but it seemed a little forced. Also, Osment has officially entered the awkward stage - get ready for lots of squeaky exclamations! On the plus side would be flawless performances from Caine/Duvall, lots of clean action, and some wonderful artwork from… Read more

Solid Film, Jun 8 2004

There isn't much I'll be able to add to this movie's reviews besides validation: Castle-Hughes has the performance of her life, the story is touching, you're likely to spend some time sniffling, etc. This film delivers on the hype - a great selection for your next family movie night.