Michael Serratore gives a sharp portrait of Mike, Stephen's lover, who bounces among frustration, love and unfulfilled need.

Mr. Bassett's Sid is an even sharper portrait.

Allowing for a bit of aggrandizing by his wife, "there have been few sharper portraits of the film maker as alchemist" (Maslin).

But the comptroller's audit paints a sharp portrait of the resulting costs.

Their mix of outrage, idealism and school solidarity offers a sharp portrait of smart adolescents.

But the entire novel, meanwhile, paints a poignantly sharp and critical portrait of the suburban American life experienced by the baby-boom generation.

Among the dimly lighted ruins were light boxes with startling sharp portraits of children and "found art" displays of toys.

For example, the party scene includes a sharp portrait of Achilles' sexually predatory, hard-drinking father and his sweet but dominating mother.

But the sheer energy is transformed into a sharp and vivid portrait.

Next week brings a sharp portrait of a Florida woman accused of drugging a widow and stealing her money.