The Amazing Secret Almond
By Steve Herte
The Amazing Spiderman – 3D (2012)
Although
I had my reservations about seeing this film in 3D, what with the audience
experiencing exactly what Spiderman does when he leaps off a tall building and
web-swings to the next, I never closed my eyes. I was entranced by this
stunning and exciting movie. Frankly, I liked it a lot better than the previous
ones.
We
get to see Peter Parker (Max Charles – at age 4, and Andrew Garfield as a young
teen) as the kid who stands up for other kids and gets beaten up in the
process. We feel the shy, innocent love between Peter and Gwen Stacy (Emma
Stone) grow from awkward instances to genuine caring. We discover clues as to
why Peters parents, Richard and Mary (played by Campbell Scott and Embeth
Davidtz), both died (were murdered?). We meet Peter’s gentle Uncle Ben
(Martin Sheen) and the doting, loving Aunt May (Sally Fields). Both actors did
believable, sterling performances. Sheen actually looked like the Marvel Comic
character. Field was superb even though she’s still a bit too young for the
part.
The
story this time is that Peter’s father worked with Dr. Curt Connors (Rhys
Ifans) and they were on the verge of a break-through in their research on
trans-species genetic transferral when Richard Parker died. Peter
discovers this connection and joins a tour group of the laboratory where Doctor
Connors works. Having discovered an equation written by his father in an
old briefcase, Peter gives it to Dr. Connors, thereby both ingratiating himself
to him and setting off the man’s megalomania.
Dr.
Connors had lost most of one arm in a previous lab accident and was hoping that
using lizard genes he could somehow re-generate the lost limb. The equation
allows him to come up with the serum to do so, but he takes it to the extreme
of curing all mankind of its weakness by turning everybody into lizard-people,
a feat he almost accomplishes.
Peter,
meanwhile is growing into his role of Spiderman after having been bitten by one
of many radioactive spiders he encounters whiling roaming the secret rooms of
Dr. Connors’ building. The powers he gains are at first baffling, then are
used for pay-back to bullies, then are turned into vigilantism when Uncle Ben
is murdered by a store thief while Peter’s back is turned. Lastly, he
accepts the responsibility his powers engender to stop Dr. Connors after
failing to convince Captain Stacy (Denis Leary), Gwen’s Dad, of the mad
doctor’s motives.
The Amazing Spiderman has everything I expect in a movie; eye-popping
cinematography, convincing special effects, a great story and an excellent cast
who never once disappoint – right down to the gradual budding smile on Gwen’s
face when Peter tells her that promises one cannot keep are the best kind of
promises. Captain Stacy made him promise to stay away from Gwen, realizing the
danger to her from the enemies he would make. I see several Oscar nominations
in the future.
The Secret Pilgrim
John Le Carré
1991
If
I say to you, “Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy,” “The Spy Who Came in From the
Cold,” Deadly Affair,” “Looking Glass War,” “Smiley’s People,” “The Little
Drummer Girl,” “The Tailor of Panama,” or “The Constant Gardener,” you would
probably recognize them as books by John Le Carré which made the transition
(some unsuccessfully) from the page to the screen. George Smiley is the master
spy who is central to all to these novels even though he’s not your polished,
suave James Bond.
The
21-year-old “Secret Pilgrim” is the last Smiley novel though it hardly features
him at all. He’s giving a lecture to a group of spy-intern students who are
being instructed in the fine and dangerous business by Ned, a retired spy for
British Intelligence. The novel begins and ends with Smiley’s presentation
but meanders through seven reminiscences of cases Ned has worked in his
checkered career. The scenes bounce from London to Czechoslovakia to
Cambodia to Cold War Russia with only the thin thread of Ned to tie them
together.
I
daresay it would be extremely difficult for this book to make it to video
stardom as it is bafflingly difficult to keep up with. Several times I had
to put it down and when I took it back up I had to re-read several pages to
remember where I left off (even though I used a bookmark). There is a lot
of spy “in” language used, as well as English idioms that I imagine a
dyed-in-the-wool Le Carré fan would have no trouble with, but unfortunately
this was my first reading of his works. Also, I learned from reading other
people’s opinions, it doesn’t stand alone because it reveals things previous books
depend on for their intrigue and the reader’s interest.
Knowing
the movies that have been made, I am curious now to go back to the novels that
gave them life, but I doubt that “The Secret Pilgrim” will do the same.
Almond
12 West 22nd Street, New York City
The
white lettering on the rust-colored awnings announces a decent-sized bistro in
the heart of the Gramercy Park area. The long room has columns covered in
what looks like white birch bark paneling, and these separate the bar on one
wall from the dining area on the other, flanked by a wall covered in
red-on-parchment wallpaper adorned with four large mirrors. The wallpaper
depicts country French barnyard animals in fanciful scrollwork.
Over
a vanilla vodka martini with a lemon twist I read the four-columned menu which,
aside from the escargot appetizer, the Croques Gratin and the steak-frites was
not particularly French (it did mention Bouillabaisse, but only on
Mondays). Neither was my waiter, who would have been dumb-struck had I
ordered in French.
I
started with the Curried Mussel Cocktail – the shellfish were cooked and coated
in a curried mayonnaise and served two-to-a-shell on a bed of crushed ice with
a slice of lemon and a tiny bottle of Tabasco (neither or which it
needed). The curry flavor was light, as was the homemade mayonnaise and
the dish was eaten before I knew it – delicious. The last time I had
curried mussels was in a Belgian restaurant in Montreal, though.
I
did order a bottle of 2010 French Malbec from Gaudot vineyards which was
wonderful with the meal, and the second course, a Classic Gazpacho featuring
“Pickled Shrimp” and cilantro in the center. It sounds worse than it was. The
pickling medium was not at all evident and the soup was exactly as I would
expect. I used the Tabasco to give it a kick. The bread served was a
crusty baguette sliced into half-inch pieces and accompanied by a sweet butter.
My
interest piqued by the Spanish soup, I chose the House Made Cavatelli with veal
and pork sausage, bitter greens and tomato concassé. It was to die
for. I lingered over every bite, judiciously washing it down with the
lovely wine. OK, this basically Italian entrée was made French and
retained its excellence.
On to dessert, the only
“test” I gave Almond. I heard another patron mention Baked Alaska, which is one
of my favorite dishes created originally by the chef at Delmonico’s Restaurant
in downtown Manhattan. So, I ordered it. Let me say before I describe
it and every Frenchman faints, it was really delicious. The ice cream was
peanut-butter flavored and the meringue was fresh, though not flambéed at
table. I gave Almond points for novelty. A cup of dark coffee and a
glass of calvados later, I forgave the non-french-ness of Almond. It’s
definitely a bistro and the food, though different, is very good. I shall
return when the occasion presents itself. The Steak Frites at the next table
looked excellent.
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