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.
Maggie Smith still owns it, even if we are now into a kinder, gentler Downton Abbey. Her zingers are still there, but milder now that old feuds have been quelled, and alliances have replaced vicious rivalries.
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Ok, it’s a little sappy at the start, but slowly we discover this is much more than just a hunt for a missing dog. It’s really a coming of age tale about his owner.
Read MoreJames Bond goes Victorian. At least that’s what the trailers would have you believe, what with the cerebral detective’s swan dive into the Thames from the high recesses of Parliament, some bloody and brutal fistfights, an errant explosion or two, not to mention Irene Adler as his very own Bond -- or should we say bondage -- girl thrown in for good measure.
Read MoreOk, Dirty Harry can’t run anymore. He has a bad ticker and lives in forced retirement on a houseboat, the only excitement in his life exchanging pleasantries and an occasional beer with his houseboat neighbor, Buddy.
Read MoreIs there any better everyman than Tom Hanks? He always makes us care about his characters. Even if they are “in charge” or “heroes” like Sully or Captain Phillips they are always human and vulnerable. But in this case Hanks is neither a pilot nor a ship captain; he just a stranded traveler waiting at an airport.
Read MoreIt’s time to revisit this classic. Remember when Hollywood valued humor, playfulness, and witty banter? Instead of action, action, action, with a few dollops of self-righteous preaching thrown in for good measure.
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Maybe the most inspiring film ever. It’s a true story of Srulik, an 8-year-old Polish Jew who must survive on his own, outwitting the cold, hunger, and the relentless Nazis. And a few others as well.
Read MoreIt doesn’t get much better than this. Different Drummer’s Triple Crown: Favorite mystery writer (Agatha Christie), favorite character (Miss Marple) and favorite Miss Marple actress (Joan Hickson).
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A thriller with as many twists and turns as the Bobs, that famous wooden roller coaster from Riverview Park in my native Chicago. And that fits, too, since the dark deeds occur in a dank corner of that Windy City. Our most important character, though, hails from London.
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Probably the most significant Holocaust film ever made, with Steven Spielberg using his directorial clout to raise awareness of one of the worst atrocities of the last century. Over a quarter of a century later, Schindler’s List is even more relevant today.
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This 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 MoreSandra Bullock glows as the lovelorn CTA ticket taker hopelessly in love with a regular commuter, but the whole cast is tremendous as well. She is the shimmering star atop the Christmas tree, but the others are the lights and ornaments that make this film sparkle.
Read MoreA must see for foodies. Except that this modern day Cinderella is not trying to win the prince; she is trying to win the prize.
Read MoreBest of the Best. Sean Connery is the best Bond and From Russian with Love is his best outing. No wonder is was named the 9th best British Film of All Time by Total Film Magazine in 2004, the only Bond film to make the list.
Read MoreAustin is the kind of laid-back city where even Hollywood stars and music legends can abandon their dark glasses and be themselves. Its sophisticated skyline is reflected in the tranquil waters of Lady Bird Lake, but you can eat even the most haute cuisine in your boots and blue jeans here.
Read MoreOn the surface, this is a dark thriller about every parent’s worst nightmare – the abduction of their child, a murky mystery that rivals classics like Zodiac, The Sixth Sense, The Silence of the Lambs, and Se7en. But what will resonate beyond the well-crafted plot are the deeper meanings embedded underneath the mystery.
Read More“New report dismantles viral rumors about serial killer in Austin.
Social media hype fueled panic over a serial killer that didn't exist.”
The new study involved 22 years while the body count has increased drastically in the last 3 years.
In the past three years, the causes of death have been mainly attributed to accidental drownings. Second is suicide, as well as drug overdoses, and natural causes.
By using a longer period of time, the average deaths obscure the more recent uptick in deaths. And buried in the report is the fact that of the recent deaths, “About half a dozen called “unknown.” The link below features facts, interviews, and family members who are not content with the Austin Police Department’s dismissive views on the drownings.
Read more at this link:
This one appears to be an accident, but what about the “Over 3 Dozen Bodies Found in or around Lady Bird Lake since 2022.
Read more here https://www.differentdrummer.cc/main/body-of-paddle-boarder-found-in-ladybird-lake-june-3-2025
For a more complete summary of events read more here: https://www.differentdrummer.cc/main/rainey-street-drownings-the-smiley-face-killer-connection?rq=Petition%20Demands
"Very scary, especially given that I live in this neighborhood," said Neda, who lives near the lake.
The woman's body was found Sunday, Dec. 1, in the water near Brazos and East Cesar Chavez Streets.
"A 911 call was received from a kayaker who was paddling upstream and observed some type of object in the water," said Officer Leah Ratliff with the Austin Police Department.
Police say it appears the woman was homeless, in her 60s, and may have been trying to keep warm, when she somehow ended up in the water. Detectives do not suspect foul play.
"There's nothing that appears to be suspicious. There's no type of connection that they believe," said Ratliff.
o Another body was found in Lady Bird Lake on Dec. 2
o The death was one of at least six near the lake so far this year
o Another death in the lake sparks renewed concerns
AUSTIN, Texas - There are renewed concerns after the body of a woman was found in Lady Bird Lake over the weekend. This is one of at least six deaths in or near the lake so far this year.
"Very scary, especially given that I live in this neighborhood," said Neda, who lives near the lake.
The woman's body was found Sunday, Dec. 1, in the water near Brazos and East Cesar Chavez Streets.
"A 911 call was received from a kayaker who was paddling upstream and observed some type of object in the water," said Officer Leah Ratliff with the Austin Police Department.
Police say it appears the woman was homeless, in her 60s, and may have been trying to keep warm, when she somehow ended up in the water. Detectives do not suspect foul play.
"There's nothing that appears to be suspicious. There's no type of connection that they believe," said Ratliff.
A petition calls out the Austin Police and City officials for what it terms “a miscarriage of Justice,” hinting that there is something “darker at play” here, and accuses officials of treating the victims’ families “callously and without empathy.”
Victim’s family pleads against plea bargain for this Austin Serial Killer.
https://www.differentdrummer.cc/main/i-survived-the-rainey-street-ripper
“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
Read more here
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.
o Another body was found in Lady Bird Lake on Dec. 2
o The death was one of at least six near the lake so far this year
o Another death in the lake sparks renewed concerns
AUSTIN, Texas - There are renewed concerns after the body of a woman was found in Lady Bird Lake over the weekend. This is one of at least six deaths in or near the lake so far this year.
"Very scary, especially given that I live in this neighborhood," said Neda, who lives near the lake.
The woman's body was found Sunday, Dec. 1, in the water near Brazos and East Cesar Chavez Streets.
"A 911 call was received from a kayaker who was paddling upstream and observed some type of object in the water," said Officer Leah Ratliff with the Austin Police Department.
Police say it appears the woman was homeless, in her 60s, and may have been trying to keep warm, when she somehow ended up in the water. Detectives do not suspect foul play.
"There's nothing that appears to be suspicious. There's no type of connection that they believe," said Ratliff.
o Another body was found in Lady Bird Lake on Dec. 2
o The death was one of at least six near the lake so far this year
o Another death in the lake sparks renewed concerns
AUSTIN, Texas - There are renewed concerns after the body of a woman was found in Lady Bird Lake over the weekend. This is one of at least six deaths in or near the lake so far this year.
"Very scary, especially given that I live in this neighborhood," said Neda, who lives near the lake.
The woman's body was found Sunday, Dec. 1, in the water near Brazos and East Cesar Chavez Streets.
"A 911 call was received from a kayaker who was paddling upstream and observed some type of object in the water," said Officer Leah Ratliff with the Austin Police Department.
Police say it appears the woman was homeless, in her 60s, and may have been trying to keep warm, when she somehow ended up in the water. Detectives do not suspect foul play.
"There's nothing that appears to be suspicious. There's no type of connection that they believe," said Ratliff.
https://www.differentdrummer.cc/main/body-of-paddle-boarder-found-in-ladybird-lake-june-3-2025
