In this humorous book about work and success, Ernie Zelinksi ably addresses a number of points about how to work fewer hours, earn more money, and live with less stress. While often light on specific details, this book is about leveraging our own creativity to engineer the lifestyle we want.

Grade: B.

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In this adaptation of the Shakespeare play, Titus Andronicus, Anthony Hopkins and Jessica Lange lead a phenomenal cast against an sprawling set and magnificent costumes. The story of a victorious Roman general, the downfall of his family, and his Pyrrhic revenge comes vividly to life in this wonderful visual feast.

Grade: A.

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Sean Penn delivers an extraordinary performance in this biopic about the first openly gay man elected to public office in California, his rise to the leadership of an oppressed community, and his senseless early death at the hands of an assassin. This masterpiece is a stunning and important historical picture.

Grade: A+.

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Spike Lee directs this important and very eye-opening documentary about four young girls whose deaths in the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing galvanized the civil rights movement. Interviews with the victims’ families, civil rights leaders, and even George Wallace give a very detailed examination of this heinous terrorist act.

Grade: A-.

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This British documentary, the fourth in a series, somehow garnered an ISA nomination while following around a group of utterly ordinary people as they grow into adulthood and deal with life, relationships, and work. Sadly, the idea delivers far more than the film itself and this beast trudges on endlessly.

Grade: C-.

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In this Pulitzer-winning novel, a man and his young son travel through a stark post-apocalyptic world and try to avoid unimaginable danger, desperate bandits, and the omnipresent possibility of starvation. The writing style Cormac McCarthy employs here is sparse, minimalistic, and fragmented, which brings the story to life.

Grade: A.

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Ryan Gosling delivers an unforgettable performance as Mr. Dunne, an 8th grade history teacher in an inner city school, who befriends one of his students, wonderfully played by picture-perfect newcomer Shareeka Epps. As she struggles against criminal influences in her neighborhood, he must deal with his own drug habit.

Grade: A-.

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Soul II Soul’s third album is a decent collection of laid-back funky jazz-influenced soul tracks. A few of these songs are instrumentals, but they’re all well-written, although this disk didn’t get much attention when it came out. Joy, Take Me Higher, and Move Me No Mountain shine.

Grade: B-.

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Soul II Soul’s sophomore album did not feature big anthems like their debut, but it still delivers forty minutes of funky, jazzy soul grooves. The songwriting is tight here and this laid-back disk delivers a great set of tracks. Get a Life, People, and Missing You steal the show.

Grade: B+.

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London’s Soul II Soul defined a subgenre in the early 90s with this extraordinary blend of hip-hop, jazz, and soul. The title track, Keep On Movin’ and the lush Back to Life became instant dancefloor classics. The music is deliciously funky and provokes big smiles, even two decades later.

Grade: A-.

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