On the Basis of Sex. Mimi Leder, dir. Felicity Jones does a good job portraying Ruth Bader Ginsburg, while Armie Hammer and Cailee Spaeny do well as her husband and daughter, respectively. The movie is a wee bit slow in parts, but it was generally interesting, if only for its historical importance. It is the story of how the first domino fell on the way to the now stalled Equal Rights Amendment (which will never be approved under the Trump administration, of course—one only needs to remember the Kavanaugh hearings). The trial scene at the finale was as gripping as any legal thriller. RBG is getting a lot of deserved publicity these days for her long service as a progressive judge standing up for people’s rights, including women’s. Maybe this will help get the ERA approved? Recommended.

A Dog’s Way Home. Charles Martin Smith, dir. Many might consider this just family-oriented entertainment for dog lovers, but I found it refreshing and meaningful. And there are lots of animals—cats, in particular. Of course, Bella, the dog that loses her mother and is raised by Mama Cat, steals the show. Moviegoers will love Big Kitten too (how did they film those scenes with her?). It’s a road trip where Bella makes a lot of friends and encounters enough enemies as she makes her long journey home. Ashley Judd doesn’t do so well in her secondary role as Teri, but Jonah Hauer-King and Alexandra Shipp as Lucas and Olivia respectively were great. I’m sure we’ll be seeing a lot more of the last two. Recommended, if only for the great Rocky Mountains scenery.

***

Comments are always welcome.

Goin’ the Extra Mile. If any novel in the “Mary Jo Melendez Mysteries” trilogy should become a movie, this would be it. I put poor Mary Jo into some bad situations here. The U.S. made the MECHs (“Mechanically Enhanced Cybernetic Humans”), Russia stole them, and now China wants them and will kidnap Mary Jo and her family to get them. Taking place in the Silicon Valley, France, and China, this novel isn’t for readers with cardiac problems! Available in ebook format on Amazon and Smashwords and all the latter’s affiliated retailers (iBooks, B&N, Kobo, etc.)

Around the world and to the stars! In libris libertas!

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