Often been surprised by a movie after what a film critic said about it? Ever felt cheated out of big bucks on the recommendations of a punk 24-year-old? Or really loved the ones they panned? Well, you no longer need to feel out of step with the current movie review band. Different Drummer is for you. Read more about our take on the film world. And get ready to relive your favorite movies with the recipes that follow each review. You can find many other great recipes in Different Drummer’s own Appetite for Murder: a Mystery Lover’s Cookbook, too.
This must see 2022 film will restore your faith in modern cinema. Everything in it is a work of art, from the delicious food, the scenery that resembles fine paintings, the piquant satire, brilliant script, and the outstanding acting.
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One year ago, a young man from Boston got away from what some dub the Rainey Street Ripper. Only now is he fit enough to tell his tale. “He says he was drugged while bar-hopping with friends on West 6th Street in Downtown Austin. He was found under a bridge with serious injuries.”
Read MoreTom Selleck’s Jesse Stone is the police chief, just as his Blue Bloods counterpart Frank Reagan is. He has Reagan’s sense of justice, integrity, and doggedness, but he has never slain his real demons, which are on the inside.
Read MoreDespite its 2023 July release, this wasn’t exactly a summer popcorn movie. But it is definitely a must see because it exposes a concealed crisis from which too many wish to avert their eyes: the human trafficking scourge that affects approximately 2 million children a year.
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The Granddaddy of all rom-coms is still a delight, even if it is 90 years old! And it was the first film to sweep the Oscars, bringing home Academy Awards for Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director, and Best Picture, and Best Writing [Only others are One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975), and Silence of the Lambs 1991)]
Read MoreYes, he’s a con man at best, and a ruthless opportunist who doesn’t seem to care whom he hurts along the way, but his slick charm draws us in even if the prim Clara seems immune to it.
Read MoreThis 1975 thriller has aged well. The classic paranoia and suspicion of government agencies seem particularly appropriate today. And while it still keeps you riveted to your seat, this thriller actually takes time for character development and great dialogue, unlike the frenetic features Hollywood currently puts out.
Read MoreSuch a glorious film! The searing beauty and fierceness of the land, its peoples, and beasts are but a backdrop for this saga of two independent spirits whose love for the land and their own independence is only surpassed by their love for each other.
Read MoreBehind the scenes, its temperamental stars didn’t always hit it off, its Oscar wins were a real surprise to the cast, and it wasn’t until 1957 that it really caught on.
Read MoreWith all this talk about what it means to be a man or a woman, The Big Country offers a unique spin from over 6 decades ago. It also defies the stereotypes of the 1950s, when it was made.
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Sam Sade living out his golden years in the South of France. Who would have thunk it? And it’s surprisingly, good, too.
Read MoreIt’s been 53 years since Dirty Harry and his 44 Magnum exploded across the screen, but it is as relevant today as it was then. In fact, rebel detective Harry Callahan and his infamous one-liners ushered in a series of imitators.
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In 1891 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle created Sherlock Holmes, the enigmatic detective, and he has been fascinating and frustrating readers ever since. This is especially true with many recent reincarnations on screen that emphasize his eccentricities and personal foibles.
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Tired of the mediocre fare on current streaming? I have the series for you. Attention, anyone who loves mysteries, history, World War II settings, English villages, and consummate acting.
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Appetite for Murder: A Mystery Lover’s Cookbook
Also available here
by Kathy Borich
A tantalizing slant on cooking and crime. Relive your favorite classic detective stories and then whip up the food that caught the culprit.
“I survived the Rainey Street ripper': Drugged man who plummeted 25ft off bridge believes 'serial killer' stalking Austin tried to drown him.” Daily Mail
Twelve bodies have been found in Lady Bird Lake and Colorado River since 2022
Police insist there is no serial killer but the mounting bodies sees rumor persist
Jeff Jones survived falling off bridge near river, thinks he may have been pushed
Update: They are now installing much needed lighting along the Hike and Bike Trail near Rainey Street.
February 6, 2024
“A body was found Monday, Feb. 6, 2024, in a Texas lake, the same site where other deceased individuals have been discovered in recent months, authorities said.
“At least five people have been found dead at the lake, which is a portion of the Colorado River running through downtown Austin, since last year.” –Louis Casiano, Fox News
The body is that of a woman, which differs from the previous drownings, all of which were men around age 30. As usual, the police are mum and saying there are no signs of foul play, but what else is new? –DD
Different Drummer will keep you informed as further details emerge. Below is the area where the recent body was found.
In 2023 alone, five bodies have been found in in Lady Bird Lake, and according to local reports, as many as eight in the past 10 months.
Different Drummer and her husband Gary have been biking this trail around the lake for decades. They live in the thick of it, on a quaint tree-lined street across the river from the glittering Austin Skyline.
Follow our two Cycling Sleuths chronicle where their path crosses those who did not return home to their loved ones.
Smiley Face Connection: February 2024 Update: Another Body Found
The Serpent’s Tooth: A Texas Mystery
Austin is now the trendy number one city, but back in the eighties it was more laid back – not so many skyscrapers and urban hipsters. Just outside of town, you'd be likely to run into old cowboys, ranch hands, and a diamondback or two. And just maybe – an accidental death not as accidental as it seems…
Complete with Texas Recipes for the Oktoberfest Dinner where all is revealed.
An Illustrated Introduction to Classical Horsemanship: Concepts and Skills from A to Z
by Gary Borich
A comprehensive resource in a succinct alphabetical format that brings the beginning rider through every aspect of learning to train and ride for show and trail.
