Dilettante's Diary

Dilettante's Diary

Patrick Donohue's Reviews

Number of visits to Dilettante's Diary so far: 329,338!

Some philosopher -- I forget which one -- said that one of the main purposes of the arts is to give the idle rich something to talk about. That's what I'm doing here. Not that I'm rich, but I'm well qualified with respect to the other aspect of the job description.

What you'll find here are personal responses to stuff that I've been seeing and reading lately. These aren't reviews in the traditional sense; I don't include all the bumpf about directors, actors and so on. Nor do I mark a score card for everybody involved. I mention some aspect of a work only if I think it's worth commenting on.

In most cases, I haven't read any reviews of the work in question. I prefer to form my own impressions before hearing what others have to say. What you're getting here is pure, unadulterated PJD. So how do I decide what movies to attend, what books to read? From the buzz, I guess. From knowing which directors, writers, actors are involved. From what friends tell me. From noticing how much press the work is receiving.

I promise to reveal only the bare minimum of plot elements. To me, one of the most important aspects of any novel, movie or play is the way the author hooks me on the narrative by gradually doling out details of the plot. So I wouldn't want to spoil that pleasure for anybody. God spare us from those reviewers who have nothing better to offer than elaborate plot summaries!

If you want to know something about me, check the "Who Do I Think I Am?" page (just after "Home" page in the navigation bar on the left). If you think you can figure out who I am, please let me know. My psychiatrist would find the information very helpful.

JUST POSTED (Click on JANUARY 23, 2012 in the navigation bar on the left):

THE IRON LADY (Movie) -- Meryl Streep Shows Her Mettle

THE ENCHANTED ISLAND (Opera) -- Brand New Baroque from the Met

LIGHT AND DARK (Autobiography) -- Visual and Verbal Riches from Ken Howard

NEW YORKER Short Fiction from Said Sayrafiezadeh and John Lanchester

Also Recently Posted (Click on Jan 15/12 in the navigation bar):

THE ARTIST (Movie) -- Black and White Movie Produces Grey Blahs

THE IDES OF MARCH (Movie) -- George Clooney's Political Potboiler

THE FORGOTTEN WALTZ (Novel) -- Anne Enright Illuminates Illicit Love

Other Movies Recenty Reviewed:

Jan 7/12

Young Adult

Police, Adjective

Dec 20/11

The Descendants

Melancholia

Dec 12/11

Shame

My Week With Marilyn

Nov 27/11

A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas

To find a specific review in the archives, click on the appropriate Index in the navigation bar.

Want to respond? You can email me at: patrick@dilettantesdiary.com (If you've sent an email without receiving a response, please try again. Sometimes, when my email system doesn't recognize your address, it sends the letter to bulk mail and it can get deleted acccidentally. It helps if you put a reference to these reviews in the subject line of your email. Thanks)