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Richard Stanley Francis or Dick Francis was born in Pembrokshire, Wales, England on October 20th 1920. His father was a renowned jockey and Francis was catapulted in to the world of Horses, Jockeys and racing. He dropped out of school to train as a Jockey and was a fighter pilot in the Royal Air-force during World War II. After the war Francis became a celebrity Champion Jockey winning over 350 races. He was the lead Jockey for the Queen Mother. But he had to drop out of Horse racing after a serious fall and became a racing correspondent for Sunday Express. Dick Francis churned out numerous best sellers and most of his books deal with the mysteries in the realm of Horse racing and Jockeys. He wrote more than 40 international best sellers and is the recipient of numerous awards. Being a three time recipient of Mystery writer of America’s Edgar Award he was made the Grand master of MWA. He is also the recipient of Britain’s Crime Writers Association’s Gold Dagger Award for fiction in 1979 and the Cartier Diamond Dagger lifetime achievement award. He also has the Gumshoe award to his credit. He was accorded the CBE in 2000. Dick Francis died in his Caribbean home on February 10, 2010 bringing down the curtains to an illustrious life.
Smokescreen slightly deviates from the usual text of Dick Francis where the protagonist is a swash buckling movie star, happily married and much touted family man. Edward “linc” Lincoln is a handsome movie star happily married to Charlotte with three children. Though English, Francis shifts the action away from the English shores to Spain and South Africa. Linc happens to be the star of a Spanish film, “man in the Car” and which while shooting in Spain comes across a draining scene. He is handcuffed and left to die for the shoot which proves to be for real. After this nerve racking experience Linc craves for something akin to a vacation. His godmother, Nerissa asks him to visit her and Linc on meeting her is taken aback by her condition. Nerissa suffering from a kind of cancer has few days to live. She asks Linc to check out her ranch in South Africa where her prized stallions are going bust in all the races.
She wants to leave her stallions to her nephew upon her death and also to Linc. Nerissa in her simplicity feels that the inheritance she leaves should not be a burden to her nephew. Linc agrees to go to South Africa and sort out the issue.
Linc, apart from being a movie star, in his earlier days was actually a prized jockey, whose only fault was to grow very tall. So he knows quite a bit about the horses and meets Nerissa’s nephew, Danillo. At first Danillo seems to be a innocent young man, but soon Linc’s suspicion shifts to him. Danillo seems to lead a double life and intends to usurp Linc’s inheritance as well. As soon as Linc lands in South Africa, continuous attempts on his life takes place and he is compelled to play a game of cat and mouse with a tough assailant. As all the Dick Francis stars, Edward Linc is left battered, but he doggedly pursues the case and helps to get the knots untied.
As usual Dick Francis has come up trumps with a great book of the day and I can assure you that you cannot keep it down even for a second. If you are planning to read through the night get the lights properly checked for you ain’t gonna let this go half way. Linc as a hero is superbly sketched and each encounters with the villain brings in goosebumps. South African scenery is well exploited in this book and mind you these are the dark apartheid days. In-spite of little craziness Smokescreen works wonders and is one of the best thriller you can put your money on.
Every family has its dysfunctional moments. There are not Brady Bunch families where everything is hunky dory and is solved with unity and courage. In reality parents and children are individuals who make choices for their self preservation and in the process find happiness to conjoin with others with the same sensibilities.
Steve Martin stars as Gil Buckman, a highly strung sales executive who is facing extreme pressures at work. His hard driving boss forces him to spend more time in shoring up the profits for the company. Gil despises him for this extra work which keeps him away from his family and simple pleasures of life. He also draws a parallel to his father’s workaholic nature which led to an estrangement. Gil wants to be an hands down dad and feels a failure when his son Kevin is diagnosed with emotional problems entailing therapy by the school psychologist. Gil’s other daughter and son also have minor issues and the biggest shock comes to him when his wife Mary announces that she is pregnant with their fourth child. Gil is scared about the financial burdens the family will be put through by the arrival of his fourth child.
As Gil questions his abilities as a father, Frank searches out him to ask him about Larry, his second but wayward son. Gil is surprised when Frank tell him that he considers him to be a great father and needs his advice. His fathers trust quells Gil’s heart and mends their relationship.
Meanwhile Gil’s sister Helen has her own problems as her dentist husband deserts the family. Her young son Gary begins to have dysfunctional problems as his father literally disowns him. Her once brilliant daughter Julie marries a slacker Tod and gets pregnant and they live out of Helen’s house. In her desperation Helen asks Tod to take Gary under his wing and a strong bond develops between the two. Helen starts respecting Tod to that extent that when Julie wants to break up with him she asks her to face her fears by supporting Tod.
Another sister of Gil’s, Susan faces an over indulgent father as an husband. Her husband is excessively obsessed with his precocious daughter, Patty that he has no time for Susan. Susan craves for his attentions and longs for another child. As it becomes clear that her husband is interested in developing Patty, Susan leaves the house. With her departure the well oiled mechanism stumbles and even Patty struggles in her studies. Her husband begs her to come back and Susan asks him to consider her feelings as well.
Gil’s younger brother Larry reaches Franks house with his biracial son Cool and thugs in his tow. He tries to borrow money from Frank who obliges as along as he takes over the family business. But as time passes he realizes that Larry would never be responsible and lets him go out of his life leaving Cool behind. The family is again reunited when Helen gives birth to a baby. A semblance of normality is restored as she marries Gary’s biology teacher who gives Gary the emotional anchor. Julie and Tod stay together and Susan reunites with her family. Gil and Mary become parents and Frank enjoys a second chance at fatherhood with Cool. All is well that ends well.
This movie had a decent box office run and also is a critics favorite. I just feel that it is an easy take on the challenges of parenthood with problems getting solved easily. But still its a compelling story directed by Ron Howard. It has two academy award nominations to its credit with Diane West as the best supporting actress and for the best song. All the actors are lovable and identifiable in their roles and a special mention does go for Keanu Reaves’s performance as a fun loving slacker who learns to be a parent. A good feel good movie.
Richard Stanley Francis or Dick Francis was born in Pembrokshire, Wales, England on October 20th 1920. His father was a renowned jockey and Francis was catapulted in to the world of Horses, Jockeys and racing. He dropped out of school to train as a Jockey and was a fighter pilot in the Royal Air-force during World War II. After the war Francis became a celebrity Champion Jockey winning over 350 races. He was the lead Jockey for the Queen Mother. But he had to drop out of Horse racing after a serious fall and became a racing correspondent for Sunday Express. Dick Francis churned out numerous best sellers and most of his books deal with the mysteries in the realm of Horse racing and Jockeys. He wrote more than 40 international best sellers and is the recipient of numerous awards. Being a three time recipient of Mystery writer of America’s Edgar Award he was made the Grand master of MWA. He is also the recipient of Britain’s Crime Writers Association’s Gold Dagger Award for fiction in 1979 and the Cartier Diamond Dagger lifetime achievement award. He also has the Gumshoe award to his credit. He was accorded the CBE in 2000. Dick Francis died in his Caribbean home on February 10, 2010 bringing down the curtains to an illustrious life.
Bonecrack is a delightful book which chronicles a father and son relationship. Neil Griffon has racing in his blood and as a son of a world class stable owner and trainer he is a natural. But his father does not have trust in his abilities, which forces him to move away and make a name for himself. Neil comes back when his father suffers an accident and is bed ridden. He takes up the upkeep of the stables intending to hand it over to a efficient trainer as soon as he has found one. But a night changes the equation – when Neil is kidnapped and threatened.
Just as Neil’s father never gave anything, Enzo Riviera is ready give everything his son Alessandro asks him. Alessandro wants to become a champion jockey and ride Archangel, the race favorite. Enzo is ready to do anything to get his son’s wish come true. Neil is threatened to give in to Enzo’s demand. Enzo vows to burn the stables down unless and until Alessandro is allowed to supersede all the other experienced jockeys. Neil has no alternative but to accede to his wishes.
He takes Alessandro under his wing and tries to groom him in to a good jockey. Aless is a snooty and cocky guy with scant regard to authority. But fearful for the stable, Neil perseveres and Alessandro thaws and gets in to the training mode. In an heartwarming finish Neil gets Alessandro do the best things in the world. He also earns the respect of his father and defeats Enzo’s evil plots.
I just love Neil Griffon’s character who has no great personality except for his dogged determination to save his horses. Many horses do get killed and this might turn off the animal lover, but the pace of the book helps to forgive all. I just loved the story, its heartwarming and ingenious. Dick Francis is a great mystery writer and Bonecrack once again proves it.
Grand Canyon may have great actors in the pivotal roles but the movie is essentially a Lawrence Kasdan movie, philosophical and introspective. This 1991 drama has Kevin Kline, Mary MacDonnel, Steve Martin, Mary Louise-Parker and Alfre Woodard as a part of an ensemble cast. This movie tries to understands the guilt, excuses, actions and incidents which shapes a life-time.
Mac is an immigration lawyer, played by Kevin Kline, is a victim of a holdup when his car breaks down at an unsavory location. But help arrives in the form of Simon, a tow truck driver who reasons out with the mugger to let Mac go unharmed. I found this exchange one of the compelling dialogues in the movie where the young thief asks Simon whether he is respecting him because he has a gun – you can almost feel the helplessness of a person raised on violence in this statement. A relieved Mac goes home and tries to think about ways to help his guardian angel Simon. He even feels guilty of his affluent status and also the racial divide separating them. As he makes the first step he is treading on glass, but this quest does change his outlook on racial equations which makes inequality passe.
Meanwhile at Mac’s house his wife is also struggling with her mundane life. But everything changes the day when she comes across an abandoned baby while jogging and decides to bring it home. Struck by the fact that somebody could abandon a human life so callously she decides to adopt it and faces lot of resistance. Mac and Claire are faced with a choice, the easier one being letting the baby go to the state and carrying on with their life. But the choice they would make would change their life completely.
Mac’s best friend David, is a B-grade film maker who specializes in violent films. In-fact he berates one of his assistants (played by Lawrence Kasdan, himself) for not taking a close up of a “money shot” where the brain splatters on the window. David played by Steve Martin is nothing comparable to his funny self. His brooding face with a grey beard does not even compare to his clown persona in earlier movies. But David has his epiphany when he is shot in the leg by an assailant. During the whole process he begins to question whether his violent movies contribute to the gun culture in the society. He does the turn around, by promising himself not to make the gory film, but to devote himself for eliminating violence from cinema.
As these people turn their life around, the people associated with them also experience the change, triggering a chain of events. Kasdan captures the change beautifully which actually draws you in to the movie. Towards the ending there are no perfect answer’s for life’s dilemma’s as all of them gather around the majestic Grand canyon for a shared vacation trip. Claire and Mac find answers by adopting the baby and coming closer to Simon, but Davis just dismisses his revelations as something temporary.
Grand Canyon is not a regular movie which has all the answers to the characters problems and everything does not end well. It is a beautifully made drama chronicling everyday life where some get the grip of it and some don’t. There is no black and white pictures, but only grey foggy areas where one has to make the best of it. The camera angles and the cinematography is very alluring and it does not give the brooding dark movie sensibility which is actually attractive. One needs to just understand it with an open mind and it will soon bind you for life.
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