Last holiday

Perhaps three stars, out of five. One is purely for Latifah's work; she makes the movie work. I chose it based on Joe Morgenstern's review of it (which accompanied a review of ): If Alec Guinness knew he had been replaced by Queen Latifah in a remake of "Last Holiday," he'd roll over in his grave and try to get out in order to see her. That seemed sufficient praise for getting the movie for a Friday night. I agreed then, and do so now, as well, that Queen Latifah is a formidable presence, an actress of charm and reliable tact who has survived any number of flops. But this one just makes it over the bar. once again, Queen Latifah survives some remarkably clumsy filmmaking. More than survives; she manages to prevail.

An accidental sportswriter

Lipsyte, Robert. (2011). An accidental sportswriter: a memoir. NY: Ecco.

A Times reporter and columnist, as well as a YA author, Lipsyte covered sports across the board: boxing (Clay victory over Liston in 1962 he identifies as a high point of his career, and perhaps its launching point), baseball, car racing. He met Mantle and DiMaggio, Bob Costas and many others across a very long career. An iconoclast, deatched from those sports he covered, he was criticized by Costas, among others. The book promises to be more than it is; it feels rushed. A good, though disappointing, read.

Jimi Hendrix turns eighty

If the poor man were alive, as Ralph Kiner would say, he'd turn over in his grave. What a piece of garbage. I am annoyed with myself for reading it.