“The View From Jackie’s Head #14”
If you have access to Hulu then you do not want to miss a new series on this channel. It is titled “The Looming Tower” and it is the story of events leading up to 9/11. From the moment the first episode opens the tensions and struggles of the FBI and CIA are on display as they endeavor to keep our country safe. But a big problem is the two factions do not work together to keep our country safe. Each has its secrets and each wants to keep them close.
Personifying these views are John O’Neill (Jeff Daniels) of the FBI’s Counter-Terrorism Unit and Martin Schmidt (Peter Sarsgaard) of the CIA’s al-Queda Unit. These two men can barely stand to be in the same room and even when ordered to cooperate, they don’t. Daniels and Sarsgaard are great actors and they throw themselves into their roles.
Also drawing attention is Tahar Rahin who plays Ali Soufan. Soufan is a Muslim-American FBI Agent who is constantly under scrutiny because of his religious beliefs. Soufan has proven his worth to O’Neill and he is utilized more and more to try to gain information about the radical side of Islam.
There are ten episodes in all and you will not want to miss a minute of any of them. The fun starts on February 28 when you can stream all ten episodes.
On March 16 “I Can Only Imagine” starts its run in local theaters. This is the story of Bart Millard, the lead singer of the Christian singing group “Mercy Me”. “I Can Only Imagine” is a song he wrote and the movie is the story behind that song. I will have a review of the movie out in a few weeks, but until then mark down the name of J Michael Finley. He plays Bart Millard and this movie is going to be his big break. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1m4eZVe0TEU
I have been on a reading binge lately (what’s new?). I just finished Jonathan Kellerman’s latest Alex Delaware novel NIGHT MOVES. It is a good book, a good mystery that follows step by step to the final reveal of the killer. Alex Delaware and his police friend Milo are interesting characters. Still after I closed the pages of the story I was just mildly satisfied. This is the way I have felt about the last few Kellerman novels. They are good but not good enough.
I felt the same way about Joy Fielding’s THE GOOD DAUGHTER. It was another well written mystery that never became special. This one concerns a woman whose step-mother is killed in an apparent home invasion. Her father and twelve year old stepsister are severely wounded. She rushes home to be with them and finds her world turned upside down as information indicates some of her own family members might be involved.
I like the way Joy Fielding writes, or at least I have in the past. Once again I find the basic plot interesting but it is not presented in a must read manner. Maybe I am just getting too picky in my old age. If you have read either of these books let me know your thoughts. Leave a comment at the bottom of this page.
Meanwhile I have the new Karen White novel DREAMS OF FALLING to read as well as Mary Alice Monroe’s BEACH HOUSE REUNION and Mary Kay Andrews HIGH TIDE REUNION. None of these books are out yet but they will be here by summertime. I also plan to read John Lescroart’s POISON and Jeffery Deaver’s THE CUTTING EDGE. I’ll top this all off with Daniel Silva’s THE OTHER WOMAN which arrives in July.
Lastly I just saw a trailer for a new Saoirse Ronan movie titled “On Chesil Beach.” It is based on a novel by Ian McEwen. Looks like Saoirse has another award winner on her hands. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Okkr4c4Dv5M
Until next time.
Jackie K Cooper
Jackie,
I just finished Poison. I thought it was very good. Reading Dismis Hardy is like sitting down with good friends.
That is next on my list to read. I am a long time big Lescroart fan.