2019 Media Diet

I rewatched a lot of movies this year and went on a reading tear in the second half after moving to Savannah. Oh, and got married too. That was sweet!

he *** follow the Michelin system.   * Star is among best of the year.  ** Stars is easily best of the year. *** Stars mean best of the decade/an all-timer. 

January

*Father of the Bride: Rewatch (A+)

Munich (B+) [I read the book this is based on, Vengeance, several years ago and it was slightly better and took about as much time as the movie if you have to choose between the two]

War of the Roses ( B )

Last Seen: Podcast (B+)

Taken: Rewatch (A)

Midnight Run ( B )

*Conversations with Tyler: Podcast (A+, the entire series is worth a listen but start with the Charles Mann episode)

February

**Hot Tub Time Machine: Rewatch (A)

Russian Doll: TV Show (B+)

March

Bill Bryson: Shakespeare ( B )

Frontline: trial of Ratko Mladic (B+)

Eiger Sanction (C)

Vacation (the new one with Ed Helms) (C)

April

Man on Fire (B+)

Body Heat ( B ) this is essentially Double Indemnity, which I recommend instead. Double Indemnity is A+

Cocaine Island (B minus)

The Private Life’s of the Impressionists: Susan Roe ( B )

Prisoner of Geography: Tim Marshall (B minus)

*Midnight in Chernobyl: Adam Higginbotham (A-) the first part is A++ but man does the second part drag

May

Mildred Pierce: James Caine (A)

*Our Man: George Packer (A+)

LA Confidential: Rewatch (the movie) (A-)

Summer of 1927: Bill Bryson (A-)

June

Spy Dust: Tony and Jonna Mendez (B minus)

[BEGINNING OF TRIP ACROSS COUNTRY hence the slow month]

July

Mystery Movie blah blah Adam Sandler Netflix murder whatever (C)

Four Weddings and a Funeral: Rewatch (A-)

Siege: Michael Wolfe (B+)

The Only Rule is it Has to Work: Sam Miller and Ben Lindbergh (A-)

August

How to Change Your Mind: Michael Pollan (B, for being such a highly reviewed book this didn’t do it for me. Reads like the world’s longest New Yorker article)

*Lives Other Than My Own: Emmanuel Carrère. (A, the first 50 pages on the tsunami are A+++.)

Michael Lewis: Against the Rules Podcast (A, best episode is Hand of Leonardo)

September

Leonardo: Walter Issacon (B minus) picked this up after the Michael Lewis podcast and didn’t grab me.

The Secret Lives of Trees: Peter Wohlleben (B minus) too Meta-physical.

** Open: Andre Agassi (A) made me root for and like Agassi

The Caine Mutiny play: Herman 'Wouk (B) Queeg comes off better than he does in the book

October

Savannah for 91 Days: Michael Powell (C) Morgan hated this book because it lacks substance and has horrible recommendations. Which I all thought sort of delightful

Grant: Ron Chernow (B+) still prefer Grant’s autobiography

Seveneaves: Neal Stephenson (B+) I struggled with this one in the middle. The idea of an entire world accepting the end of the world seems like so much of a stretch in today's age

Simple Art of Murder: Raymond Chandler (C-) Not Chandler's best

Ball Four (B minus): hasn’t aged well. The best part of this audiobook was author laughing at his own jokes

• Silence of the Lambs: Rewatch (A+)

Roxanne: Rewatch (B) I remember this being better

November

Josiah the Great: Ben McIntyre (C+) Like Simple Art of Murder maybe the worst book from one of my favorite author.

The Knight Before Christmas (C) Vanessa Hudgens Netflix movie. eyeroll emoji

*** Chinatown: Rewatch (A++) my annual viewing

Below Deck (A)

Saving Mr. Banks (B)

Human Body: Bill Bryson (B). Felt like Bill Bryson was just phoning it in with this book.

December

** Say Nothing: Patrick Keefe (A)

Long Night of the Knife: David Carr (B+)

The Knight Before Christmas (this time after a little wine and closer to Christmas) Vanessa Hudgens Netflix movie is the best ever!!! A+++

Exhalations: Ted Chiang (B minus) excellent writing just wasn’t my jam. Read six out of the 10 short stories before putting it down.

• Two Popes (A+) my favorite film of the year