The Ricochet Reviewer: Books, Movies, and Comics

Directors: David Foenkinos & Stephane Foenkinos Writer: David Foenkinos, from his novel Stars: Audrey Tautou, Francois Damien, Pio Marmai, Bruno Todeschini, Melanie Bernier, Josephine de Meaux, Monique Chaumette A love affair grows between Nathalie (Audrey Tatou),  a beautiful, accomplished businesswoman, and Markus (Francois Damien), a good-natured, schlubby guy who works in the same company.   When the film opens, she is in a fairy tale marriage with a gorgeous man (Pio Marmai) in a home that is the epitome of lifestyle porn.   After the husband’s untimely death and an appropriate period of mourning, she impulsively kisses Markus, a co-worker who does not appear to be in her league.  Everyone, including Nathalie and Markus, are confused by what has happened, but the couple remains open to it and a sweet romance develops.  Tautou, surprised by her own behavior but with the courage to follow her heart, and Damiens, astounded by his good fortune but afra...

Director: Abel Ferrara Writer: Nicholas St. John Stars: Zoe Lund, Bogey, Albert Sinkys, Darlene Stuto, Helen McGara, Nike Zachmanoglou, Abel Ferrara, Peter Yellen, Editta Sherman After killing a rapist in self-defense, Thana (Zoe Lund),  a young mute woman, channels her rage and newfound sense of empowerment into proactive violence against men with threatening behavior.   Isolated from society, objectified by men, exploited by a low-paying job in New York’s garment district, and traumatized by the violence against her, she transforms from a mousy nobody into a vigilante.   This early film from Abel Ferrara adds psychological weight to what might otherwise be a conventional exploitation film by externalizing the central character’s inner turmoil as death and tragedy for those by whom she feels imperiled.   Beautiful Lund is riveting in a role that often requires her to be very still and quiet. Spoiler alert!!! The end of the movie!!

  Random Marvels Project Dipping my net into the ocean of Marvel and seeing what comes up. Writer: Jason Aaron Artist: Esad Ribic  We finally get an idea of Gorr’s motivations as he witnesses the origin of life itself, the blind, careless manner in which the first god created life, producing sickly creatures that survived and evolved in spite of the god’s efforts rather than because of them.  It also seems that he bears a grudge for prayers that have not been answered.  When mortals intervene on Thor's behalf, he seems genuine in his efforts to persuade them that he is acting in their best interests, too.  The conclusion of this arc does not end Gorr’s story but sets him up as more than a mere villain, more a misguided crusader with a grudge against creation itself and the power to do something about it. Good stuff.

by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson As the war between humans and thinking machines  grinds on, both sides threaten to splinter under the weight of conflicting agendas.   Meanwhile, on Arrakis, the outlaws who will one day be known as the Fremen begin to gather strength as the spice mélange grows in popularity throughout the human worlds.   This is a sprawling, messy novel that could easily have been shortened by more than a hundred pages by editing out the repetition, excessive narrative about minor characters, and many meandering paragraphs of extraneous exposition.  Nevertheless, I enjoyed this novel because, despite their flaws, Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson hooked me with their characters and the enormous sweep of their story.   Brian Herbert (l) and Kevin J. Anderson (r) A television series could get a whole season's worth of episodes out of the plot threads and twists of fate here.   "The Butlerian Jihad" (French) Frank Herbert purists are n...

by Walter Van Tilburg Clark The inhabitants of a ranching community get up a posse  to go after a band of rustlers who are thought to have stolen cattle and committed a murder.  The small number of men who try to act reasonably and thoughtfully are easily swept aside by those who are ruled by their passions, leading to disastrous results.   Walter Van Tilburg Clark is a wonderful writer who has produced a powerful novel that succeeds in every way.   Walter Van Tilburg Clark His simple, evocative language brings the Old West to life.  His characters speak with distinctive, authentic voices.  Most importantly, the novel is very astute about mob psychology as it depicts the ebb and flow of the men's passions through the final tragedy in the pitiless morning sunlight to the aftermath of guilt and regret.   This classic story still has much of value to say about the danger of retribution unchecked by law. "Fatal Dawn" (Italian) "The Strange Incident" (Frenc...