
I knew I had my work cut out for me, but I was also determined to bring something fresh and unique to the table with Finding Poe.
Though he has been gone for 163 years, Poe has left a lasting impact on both the deductive mystery and the Gothic romance. The Poe House and Museum in Baltimore showcases what we love most about his work, although a lack of state funding may jeopardize the future of that establishment (you can send donations to its curator if you are interested in preserving this historic monument). Poe’s works are readily available through websites such as OnlineLiterature.com, and Kindle versions of his work, many of which are also free, are available through Amazon.
Unfortunately, pre-release reviews for The Raven have been shaky, although the current buzz on Twitter (I could not find the originating link) quotes Stephen King as asserting, “John Cusack is brilliant as Poe.” With that said, David Germain of the Associated Press writes, “Cusack makes a terrible Poe,” adding that the film is a “pile of cinematic bird poo.” According to the Washington Post, “Other than some stylishly gothic visuals crafted by director James McTeigue (V for Vendetta), The Raven is an unimaginative mess whose superficial appropriations of Poe’s devilish yarns are deeply unworthy of the author.” Joe Neumaier of the New York Daily News calls it “ridiculous” and a “wannabe Sherlockian thriller.” Michael Phillips of the Chicago Tribune gives it a measly two stars, bemoaning, “The Raven squanders a promising scenario while half-burying Cusack's mercurial skills as a leading man with the wiles of a character actor.” Did that deter this avid Poe fan from seeing the film? Absolutely not—and I couldn’t disagree more with the critics’ initial assessment. I posted review of my own, setting the record straight. You can read it here. | |

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