My overall impression
Talk about a story that sets a mood! Ratner’s killer promo voice—backed by the jazzy stylings of piano wizard Jonathan Menchin—leads us through this Hollywood tale that is one murder shy of full on noir. The tragic tale of stardom gone sour is all too familiar, but Ratner weaves his yarn with such nuance and wild details, it feels fresh and alive. He deftly mixes his voice with varying degrees of whiskeyed rasp and tired cynicism to create the multiple characters, especially the marvelously complex Uncle Bobby. Added treats included juicy gossip about “I Love Lucy” and a very “different” perspective on famed Hollywood landmarks. Some of the references went over the head of this ignorant 30-something, but Ratner tells the tale SO well and the music is so engaging, it never matters, and the laughs still burst out easily. Bobbywood is a tight, taut, well-oiled machine in the vintage chassis of a bygone era. Highly recommended.
