March 2021 Recommended Reading/Viewing

[Coír Draoi Ceítien]

It's March, and spring is in the air. Not to be a downer, but that could be subject to change - you never know nowadays. Still, after having some pretty big snowfalls, it's nice to have much milder weather, as it's uplifting to the spirit. This month's recommendations are nestled in the notorious genre of crime fiction, which I've recently taken a liking to; while it can be pretty dark, I believe that a window into the darkness of the human psyche, while disturbing and depressing, is necessary for being truthful. So enjoy these classics!

Reading: Red Harvest (1929) by Dashiell Hammett

Called to the city of Personville (known colloquially as "Poisonville") for a meeting with the mayor's son, an unnamed operative from the Continental Detective Agency - referred to as "the Continental Op" - uncovers a festering hive of citywide corruption and buried secrets; having experienced some of the most unsavory bits, the Op takes it upon himself to cleanse the city, even if it means pitting the underworld and the town police against each other in a gang war. The first novel from the acclaimed pulp fiction writer Hammett, who would later pen The Maltese Falcon, this novel is one of the earliest examples of "hardboiled" detective fiction characterized by cynical antiheroes, punchy dialog and subtle social analysis. It's a great ride from beginning to end, well worth the price.

Trade: https://www.amazon.com/Red-Harvest-Dashiell-Hammett/dp/0679722610/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1614638752&sr=8-1
Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Red-Harvest-Continental-Op-Book-ebook/dp/B004G8P2M8/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1614638752&sr=8-1



Viewing: Chinatown (Roman Polanski, 1974)

Frequently regarded as one of the greatest films ever made with one of the most celebrated screenplays ever written, this neo-noir follows private detective J. J. "Jake" Gittes investigating a murder linked to the disputes over Los Angeles water rights, of which sultry heiress Evelyn Mulwray and her tycoon father, Noah Cross, are important players; sordid corruption and buried family secrets are unearthed, but ultimately, the question of whether justice can really be done is left lingering. It's definitely one of the finest films of the 70's, though somewhat burdened by the fallout of director Polanski's private life; every performance is exemplary, Jerry Goldsmith's score fits perfectly, and the recreation of 1937 Los Angeles is top notch. It's a low-key film driven by lots of dialog, but it's absolutely fantastic if you're in the right mood.

DVD: https://www.amazon.com/Chinatown-Jack-Nicholson/dp/B073MDN9NF/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=chinatown+dvd&qid=1614638863&sr=8-1
Blu-Ray: https://www.amazon.com/Chinatown-Blu-ray-Jack-Nicholson/dp/B06XNQS16Z/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=chinatown+blu+ray&qid=1614638846&sr=8-1
Amazon Video: https://www.amazon.com/Chinatown-Jack-Nicholson/dp/B07FZR4YNY/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3TLJR4LAGL6F4&dchild=1&keywords=chinatown+prime+video&qid=1614638877&sprefix=chinatown+prim%2Caps%2C228&sr=8-1


So that's it for March. Enjoy the spring!