Book Review

Title: The Herald
Author: Dean J. Baker
Publisher: Mad Poet Press
Released: 2010
Pages: 50
ISBN: 978-1-926825-24-3

DVD Review
Title: When You’re Strange: A Film About The Doors
Director: Tom DiCillo
Studio: Eagle Rock Entertainment
Starring: Jim Morrison, Robby Krieger, Ray Manzarek & John Densmore; narrated by Johnny Depp
Run Time: 90 min.
Release Date: June 29, 2010

Written by Christine Bode

I’ve been following writer/director Tom DiCillo’s (Johnny Suede, Living in Oblivion, Delirious) blog at www.tomdicillo.com for the past six months, ever since I heard of the impending release of his rock documentary, When You’re Strange: A Film About The Doors. Tom’s passion and commitment to his projects is visceral, both on the page and on the screen, and he is extremely gracious and forthright with his fans and fellow film lovers. Tom, thank you for agreeing to talk to Press+1.

Book Review

Title: Opening the Gates of the Heart: A Journey of Healing

DVD Review

Title: The Runaways

Director: Floria Sigismondi

Cast: Dakota Fanning, Kristen Stewart, Michael Shannon

Length: 106 minutes

Studio/Distributor: E1 Entertainment

Released: July 20, 2010

Reviewed By Christine Bode

I love rock’n’roll movies and particularly 70s nostalgia. (Don’t miss Todd Haynes’ Velvet Goldmine by the way.) So, in other words, revisiting the history of female rock stars Cherie Currie and Joan Jett in The Runaways featuring Dakota Fanning as the glam, Bowie-loving Currie and Kristen Stewart as butch punk Jett was fun and it made me want to turn up the juke box, baby!  Based on the book Neon Angel by Currie, The Runaways showcases the rise and fall of a band of anorexic adolescent chicks who just wanted to play rock’n’roll like bad boys Iggy Pop and the Sex Pistols.

I wasn’t a fan of The Runaways and didn’t know about them until after Joan Jett made it big with her classic hit "I Love Rock’n’Roll,"  but the first thing I noticed about both lead characters is their almost complete lack of emotion throughout much of the film. The girls look great in character (Stewart and Fanning are considerably more attractive than the original duo) but the personalities of both Currie and Jett are as one dimensional as the celluloid they’re presented on.

Book Review

Title: The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner

Book Review

Title: She’s Gone Country

Book Review
Title: Easy On The Eyes
Author: Jane Porter
Publisher: 5 Spot
Released: 2009
Pages: 335
ISBN-10: 044650940X
ISBN-13: 978-0446509404

Book Review
Title: The Death of Bunny Munro
Author: Nick Cave
Publisher: HarperCollins
Released: 2009
Pages: 288
ISBN-10: 0865479100
ISBN-13: 978-0865479104

Book Review
Title: The Saint and The Fasting Girl
Author: Anna Richenda
Publisher: iUniverse.com
Released: 2009
Pages: 344
ISBN-10: 1440132410
ISBN-13: 9781440132414