Cory D. Slipman's profile

An unfulfilled love story, February 9, 2008

The cinematographically spectacular film "Atonement" was a marvelous adaptation of the passionate Ian McEwan novel set in 1930's pre-war England. The onset of the film is set in a majestic English countryside estate where the privileged Tallis family reside. Young sister Briony, a talented writer, played impressively by Saoirse Ronan is immaturely competing for the affections of James McAvoy playing Robbie Turner, son of the family housekeeper with her older sister Cecilia played by Keira Knightley. McAvoy had been mentored by the Tallis family, sent to Cambridge and about to enter medical school. The subdued relationship between Knightley and McAvoy smoldered during a erotic lovemaking… Read more

Fine remake of the 1957 classic, January 18, 2008

"3:10 to Yuma" was a worthy representive of the reprisal of the Western genre seen recently on the silver screen. Russell Crowe acknowledged as one of the finest actors on the scene today was superb as heinous, calculating outlaw Ben Wade. Christian Bale equalled his intensity in his role as crippled Civil War veteran and struggling Arizona rancher Dan Evans.

Based on an Elmore Leonard short story, director James Mangold adroitly used the beautifully sculpted New Mexico countryside to frame his drama. Cinematographer Phedon Papamichael and a series of authentic looking sets captured the flavor of the gritty and grimy old West.

Crowe playing the shrewd yet… Read more

An internet spawned backwater mystery, January 13, 2008

Henry Kisor in his third book of a series takes great pride in the description of his setting for "Cache of Corpses", Porcupine County in the picturesque and bucolic Upper Peninsula of Michigan. His protagonist Deputy Sheriff Steve Martinez has both personal and professional issues which impact his existence. Martinez, a Lakota Indian by birth is considered an outsider despite living in Porcupine for more than 10 years, against a backdrop of a mostly Caucasian populace. His relationship with wealthy local widow Ginny Fitzgerald is being put to the test when she decides to adopt a 12 year old orphaned native American boy Tommy Standing Bear.

Martinez has plenty on his plate… Read more