The Gods of Guilt – Michael Connelly

On January 16, 2024 By Author Edmond GagnonIn Book ReviewsLeave a comment

The Gods of Guilt (The Lincoln Lawyer, #5; Harry Bosch Universe, #25)
by Michael Connelly (Goodreads Author)

Edmond Gagnon‘s review – Jan 16, 2024

Michael Connelly has become my favorite author, mostly for his Harry Bosch series but I do like the Lincoln Lawyer series as well. Especially when there are little crossovers between the two protagonists who are half brothers.
Like some of the best lawyers I know personally, Michael Haller is not perfect and has his own life issues to handle while he does his best to represent his clients, guilty or not.
Although mostly predictable, The Gods of Guilt is jam-packed with courtroom action and a few little surprises that Haller pulls out of his magic hat.
This story didn’t knock my socks off but was a very good read.

The Concrete Blonde – Harry Bosch

On November 24, 2023 By Author Edmond GagnonIn Book ReviewsLeave a comment

The Concrete Blonde (Harry Bosch, #3; Harry Bosch Universe, #3) by Michael Connelly (Goodreads Author)

Edmond Gagnon‘s review Nov 24, 2023

I’ve missed Harry Bosch.
Although this is an older title, I haven’t stumbled across one of Michael Connelly’s cop stories in a while. I’ve been able to get my Bosch fix through streaming both that series and the Lincoln Lawyer.

This book has Harry all twisted inside-out, having him involved in a big civil suit launched against him for taking out a serial killer. Then, while the trial is going on, a note appears that shows there might be a copycat killer or that Harry killed the wrong man.

Add in Bosch’s lates romance that he is trying to cling to…and various suspects he tracks down only to find he’s got the wrong guy, and The Concrete Blonde is a fast-paced read with lots of twists and turns that keeps you guessing to the end.

Napoleon – the Movie

On November 24, 2023 By Author Edmond GagnonIn EntertainmentLeave a comment

Ridley Scott knows how to make an epic movie for the big screen. Beautiful cinematography, explosive sound from cannon fire, and the horrific cacophony of battle cries and screams. Mix in an evolving love story and you have a detailed accounting of the rise in power of Napoleon Bonaparte.

It’s one of those movies that should be seen on the big screen, and perhaps from the comfort of a Lazy Boy recliner because if its two hour and forty minute length. I thought some of the intimate scenes between Napoleon and Josephine could have been trimmed a bit but they give viewers an in-depth look at the military commander’s personal life.

No doubt Joaquin Phoenix will get an Oscar nomination for his role in portraying the little French General with the big ego. I found some of his character traits were similar to those he portrayed as Commodus in Gladiator. Unknown to me, actress Vanessa Kirby did a nice job of portraying Josephine, Napoleon’s lifetime love.

Scott did an amazing job of combining real action in battle scenes with CGI special effects to the point where it is difficult to separate the two. I can’t imagine the skill and co-ordination it takes to pull off such huge undertakings.

For a war movie, Cathryn said it wasn’t too gory and she managed to keep her eyes open through the whole film. I thought the action was great but found the show a bit slow between battle scenes. She gave the flick a 9 and I and 8 out of 10.

Life On Our Planet (Netflix)

On November 5, 2023 By Author Edmond GagnonIn EntertainmentLeave a comment

If you’re a natural history or geography buff or at all interested in the evolution of our own planet, you have to check out, Life On Our Planet, currently on Netflix. The series is similar to the Planet Earth series by the BBC and David Attenborough, with amazing graphics, CGI, and real footage.

Morgan Freeman narrates this series, which focuses on any and all life on our planet, including the mass extinctions that killed off animals like the Dinosaurs. Although accurately describing life here millions of years ago must be a lot of educated guesswork, the CGI used to recreate the different species that came before us it mind blowing.

If you’re looking for something different and new to watch, you have to check this out.

Killers of the Flower Moon

On November 5, 2023 By Author Edmond GagnonIn EntertainmentLeave a comment

Slow and long. Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon will no doubt be nominated and win some Academy Awards, but as in most Oscar winners it’s difficult to watch. Not because of all the killing in the name of personal and corporate greed, but because the film’s 3.5 hour length drags on longer than a Sergio Leone spaghetti western.

We all know the plot – white man wants red man land and the oil that lies beneath it, and will stop at nothing to obtain it. Perhaps this Oklahoma tale hasn’t been heard by the masses but it is an all too-familiar story that continues today with our own governments fighting wars over natural resources.

The star-studded cast – with a few you really have to look for – helps move the movie along at a steady snails pace. Although the acting was top-notch, I think the film editor could have been a little more sadistic with the scissors. I got the message in the first ten minutes of the movie.

I don’t believe this movie is a must-see on the big screen but well worth the watch from your own living room, where you can nod off and not worry about someone stealing your popcorn. Cathryn had no interest in seeing this flick so I went solo. I give it a 7 out of 10.

Echoes in Eternity – Street Cop Stories

On October 15, 2023 By Author Edmond GagnonIn Book ReviewsLeave a comment

Echoes in Eternity: Street Cop Stories
by James Disser

Edmond Gagnon‘s review Oct 15, 2023

I didn’t find this book all that interesting, perhaps because I also worked the streets for over 31 years and lived the same stories.
Having said that, Disser offers a real look into the types of calls and crimes that police officers face on a daily basis.
As an author, I think this former cop fell into the same trap I did with my first book, telling his tales as if writing a police report,without much emotion. Not that the individual stories weren’t inciteful for most people, they just lacked enough feeling to drag readers into the events he related.
For anyone who wants a real-life account of what happens during a variety of police investigations, this book is a good example.

Gran Turismo – The Movie

On August 30, 2023 By Author Edmond GagnonIn Book ReviewsLeave a comment

It seems that movie makers have finally gotten back to putting good films back into movie theatres and Gran Turismo is exactly that. But is it a movie about a video game or car racing? Turns out it’s a movie about both. Cathryn and I were skeptical when we heard about this one, both being clueless about simulated racing video games. Our fears were short-lived.

In a nutshell, Gran Turismo is something played by ‘gamers’. But in this case, Nissan runs a contest to see who the best ‘sim-racer’ is, in the hopes of putting him or her behind the wheel of one of their real life race cars. The challenge seems impossible to all but the promoter, played by Orlando Bloom, the only big name actor in the movie.

Based on a true story, Nissan selects contest winners from around the world and sends them to race car training camp. From that point on this flick is a Cinderella story. There are some suspected pitfalls and other pleasant surprises that easily keep the audience interested.

If you’re a gamer or racing enthusiast, this movie is for you. The special effects in both worlds is high octane action, where you can almost feel the excitement and g-forces the young drivers experience. It’s hard to believe this story really happened and you should see it for yourself. Cathryn and I both loved it and each give it a 10 out of 10.

The Bat – Jo Nesbo

On August 1, 2023 By Author Edmond GagnonIn Book ReviewsLeave a comment

The Bat by Jo Nesbo (June 04,2013)
by Jo Nesbø (Goodreads Author)

Edmond Gagnon‘s review, Aug 01, 2023 it

I just couldn’t finish this one and struggled to give it 3 stars. The cover says it’s the first Harry Hole thriller but it’s more like a chiller. I gave up on page 200, about half-way through the book.

Having read Nesbo’s Snowman and also seeing the movie, maybe I expected too much. It was the author’s first time out so maybe he was only beginning to polish his act.

There is way too much useless fluff and character backstory – one part in particular where a whole chapter is wasted on useless information about an inconsequential person. At least twice, I had to flip back to the beginning to remember what the opening murder scene was all about.

Perhaps the story gets better in the end. Guess I’ll never know.

Oppenheimer – The Movie

On July 30, 2023 By Author Edmond GagnonIn EntertainmentLeave a comment

I have to say I was drawn into the hype before this movie was released and liked the positive reviews, but was turned off within minutes of the start because of the excessively loud soundtrack. Imagine an old locomotive building up steam and then blasting right through your head – they did it several times in the movie and we found it very annoying.

I’m a bit of a history buff and enjoyed the story, although many parts of it were drawn out way too long. The all-star cast and their acting was superb all throughout. The switching back and forth between color and black and white helped to separate two events but the timeline was still confusing.

I didn’t realize Albert Einstein was still alive and asked for input during the creation of the atom bomb, and that so many other scientists with the exception of him, were such egomaniacs. There were a lot of people involved in the Trinity project and their characters helped the movie along. As in the name,

the film is about Oppenheimer himself, more than the bomb.

The movie gives you great insight into American politics – how they were so paranoid about Communists, the Nazis, and even their allies – the Russians. They flaunt their power once the bomb is created, then backtrack to clear their name on the international stage and discredit its creator.

The movie is three hours long, probably an hour more than it should be. I have to admit it was entertaining for me, but Cathryn fell asleep at least twice. She didn’t like the movie at all and rated it a 4 out of 10. I have a tough time giving it a 6.

Mission Impossible 7 – Dead Reckoning Part 1

On July 14, 2023 By Author Edmond GagnonIn EntertainmentLeave a comment

Tom Cruise loves cinema so much he turned down several offers from movie streamers like Netflix and Amazon, and he purposely developed his latest instalment of Mission Impossible specifically for the big screen. It’s his mission to keep movie theaters alive, thus the reason he rushed Top Gun Maverick into production during the Covid epidemic.

Just browse the limited selection of movies these days at your local theater and it’s easy to see their days are numbered. Blame covid, movie ticket or popcorn prices or virtually free streaming from the comfort of your own living room…even all the superhero movies aimed younger audiences don’t seem to be filling theater seats.

But there are certain movies that should be seen on the big screen and M.I. 7 is one of them. Unlike the last instalment of Indiana Jones, which was mostly CGI, Dead Reckoning is a movie made for adrenaline junkies. Action in the form of foot and car chases is second to none, with awesome and realistic stunts, some of which are performed by Cruise himself.

There is one aerial chase scene that the action star trained a whole year for. It’s no secret that Cruise strives to impress audiences by pushing the envelope when it comes to the type of fast-paced and almost non-stop action that the Impossible Mission Force delivers each time they accept a new assignment.

There is plenty of death and destruction in M.I. 7, as in most action movies these days, but there are also elements of humor, humility and compassion. The plot has to do with Artificial Intelligence, something that is a hot topic around the world today. This film gives us a glimpse at how scary a super A.I. can be in the wrong hands.

Apparently, Dead Reckoning is a long story to tell, with part one running two and three-quarter hours and part two already in production. Hopefully our local cinemas will still be in business when the second installment comes out. Cathryn and I both enjoyed the movie, both of us easily giving it a 10 out of 10.

Life Written and Reviewed

Author: Author Edmond Gagnon