ABC has offered up a couple of clips from Castle, the new series starring Nathan Fillion (Firefly, Desperate Housewives.
"Wildly famous mystery novelist Richard Castle (Nathan Fillion) is bored with his own success. Then he learns that a real-world copycat killer has started staging murder scenes depicted in his novels. Castle is questioned by NYPD Detective Kate Beckett (Stana Katic), a bright and aggressive detective who keeps her investigations under tight rein. Though they instantly clash, sparks of another sort also begin to fly, leading both to danger and a hint of romance as Castle steps in to help find the killer. And once that case is solved, he and Beckett build on their new relationship as they look to solve more strange homicides in New York - as much fun as one can have with death and murder.
Castle is kept grounded by his Broadway diva mother, Martha Rodgers (Susan Sullivan), and quick-witted teenage daughter Alexis (Molly Quinn). Also starring in the series are Ruben Santiago-Hudson as NYPD Captain Roy Montgomery, Tamala Jones as Medical Examiner Lanie Parish, Jon Huertas as NYPD Detective Javier Esposito and Seamus Dever as NYPD Detective Kevin Ryan."
I must confess that when I first heard about this, I cringed. But having seen the clips and trailers, I have more than a little hope. Nathon rocks and appears to really own the role.
Castle debuts, on ABC, on March 9th at 8pm CST.
Take a look at a couple of clips, including one with James Patterson and Steven Cannell playing cards with Castle.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
A look at CASTLE: A couple of clips from the upcoming series.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Move Victor Gischler movie news!
I seem to be spending a lot of time writing about Mr. Victor Gischler these days. Previously, we wrote about the sale of his nifty book Go-Go Girls of the Appocalype and the sale of his Pulp Boy screenplay (co-written by the very cool Anthony Neil Smith).
Now word comes that Ryûhei Kitamura has signed on to direct the film version of Vic's Gun Monkeys.
Charlie Swift just pumped three .38-caliber bullets into a dead polar bear in his taxidermist girlfriend’s garage. But he’s a gun monkey, and no one can blame him for having an itchy trigger finger. Ever since he drove down the Florida Turnpike with a headless body in the trunk of a Chrysler, then took down four cops, Charlie’s been running hard through the sprawling sleaze of central Florida. And to make matters worse, he’s holding on to some crooked paperwork that a lot of people would like to take off his hands. Now, with his boss disappeared and his friends dropping like flies, Charlie has got his work cut out just to survive. If he wants to keep the money and get the girl too, he’s really going to have to go ape...
Ryûhei Kitamura most recently directed the film version of Clive Barker's Midnight Meat Train. He previously directed the award-winning films Azumi and Aragami. He also wrote the screenplay for Godzilla: Final Wars.
I know very little about Mr. Kitamura, so I emailed a friend that likes horror and Sci-fi films. He was very impressed with Midnight Meat Train, Godzilla and Azumi, the three films he had seen, and praised his style.
Gun Monkeys was nominated for the Edgar for best First Novel and has one of the coolest opening lines in all of literature:
"I turned the Chrysler onto the Florida Turnpike with Rollo Kramer's headless body in the trunk, and all the time I'm thinking I should've put some plastic down."
The screeenplay was written by Lee Goldberg. Lee has worked in televion for over twenty-five years, both writing and producing for Monk, Diagnosis Murder, Sliders and Spenser: For Hire as well as another dozen plus others. Lee is also the author of various mystery novels as well as several non-fiction titles.
If this is done right, we should be in for some killer pulpy goodness! Read More......
DVD Review: SONNY ROLLINS – SAXOPHONE COLOSSUS
Acorn Media
Release date: January 27, 2009
MSRP: $24.99
Full disclosure: At one point in my novel Big City Bad Blood (Editor's note: Do yourself a favor and buy this book!), Ray Dudgeon needs a spiritual lift, and he listens to Sonny Rollins. Rollins is my favorite living tenor sax player. Suffice it to say, I’m a very big fan.
Robert Mugge’s 1986 documentary chronicles two very different Rollins performances, and provides remarkable insight into the man and his methods.
The first show, a beautifully filmed outdoor concert at Opus 40 in Saugerties New York, features Rollins with his regular quintet. As the film opens, we find Rollins launching into a 15-minute solo that Mugge wisely leaves intact. This breathtaking solo provides ample evidence of why many consider Rollins the world’s greatest jazz improviser. The Opus 40 concert footage alone is worth the price of the DVD, and then some.
The second concert, filmed in Tokyo, is the world premiere of Rollins’s Concerto for Tenor Saxophone and Orchestra. For Rollins fans, this is fascinating stuff, but it is not as well filmed (Mugge only had two cameras and had to cover with b-roll of general “life in Tokyo” footage that seems incongruous with the music). Still, it offers a rare glimpse of a musical genius stretching out and bravely tackling new forms. And there are moments of stunning beauty in it.
Throughout the film, Mugge weaves interview footage of Rollins and his wife/manager Lucille, and this material does a great job putting the music in context and revealing the man behind the horn. Rollins frankly addresses his early struggles and talks about his self-imposed exile from the jazz scene, while also taking justifiable pride in what he’s achieved. He sees his music, and himself, as a work-in-progress, and you cannot help but be impressed by his honesty and humility.
Also woven throughout the film is commentary by three leading jazz critics. These interviews represent an articulate love-fest, but they give additional insight into Rollins’s methods, and help place him in context of the Jazz pantheon.
For the final sequence, Mugge returns us to Opus 40 as Rollins brings the house down with a fantastic performance of Don’t Stop The Carnival. A perfect capper to an extraordinary experience.
Quibbles: Cutting away from the solo in Don’t Stop The Carnival to see one more interview clip was a mistake. That was such a beautiful solo; we should’ve been allowed to hear Rollins build his ideas all the way to their conclusion. Perhaps the Opus 40 concert will someday be released as a complete concert film; if it is, I will be first in line to buy a copy. In the meantime, this DVD is a must have for all Sonny Rollins fans, and jazz fans in general. I suspect it will even convert some of the jazz-curious.
Order Sonny Rollins: Saxophone Colossus.
Sean Chercover
Sean is the award-winning author of Big City, Bad Blood and Trigger City. I strongly reccomend both novels to anyone that likes good P.I. fiction. Sean is a hell of a writer as well as a top notch fella.
Check out Sean's website.
Sean can also be found at The Outfit, a nifty blog featuring not only Sean, but Barbara D'Amato, Michael Allen Dymmoch, Kevin Guilfoile, Libby Hellmann, Sara Paretsky and Marcus Sakey. Talk about getting a bang for your buck...except you don't have to pay to visit the Outfit. But if you did, it would totally be worth it.
DVD Review: EMERGENCY! Season Five.
Universal Studios Home Entertainment
Release date: Jan 20, 2009
MSRP: $39.98
Stars: Randolph Mantooth, Kevin Tighe, Robert Fuller, Julie London, Bobby Troup,
Action! Adventure! Whumping!
Whumping? Fan fiction devotees know what I’m talking about. The word “whumping” was first used in connection with Stargate SG1 fan fiction to refer to the frequent tendency of authors to write stories that involve serious injury to the character of Daniel Jackson. This sadistic practice became known as “Danny whumping”. Google the word and here’s what you get:
“Whumping is a term describing a genre of fan fiction where a character is
physically, emotionally and/or mentally abused. Whumping belongs to the subset
of fan fiction known as hurt/comfort (which also includes the sub-genres angst
(mental hurt/anguish) and smarm.”
There are plenty of anxious moments for our heroes in Emergency! Season Five. In the fourth episode, Chet Kelly is nearly blown up at a warehouse fire and Roy Desoto is almost Roman-candled to death in fireworks factory fire. In a later episode, Captain Stanley is electrocuted by a downed power line. Even Dr Kelly Brackett at Rampart
General Hospital gets into the act when he suffers a toxic reaction to being bitten by a catfish in his newly installed aquarium. But these little diversions don’t really qualify as whumping since none of them leads to any real angst. There are no tense moments in the hospital waiting room, no beside vigils, accompanied by the “beep, beep” of the heart monitor.
Ah, but the final episode of the season will bring smiles to the faces of Emergency! fan fiction aficionados. Station 51 is called out in the middle of the night to minister to a catatonic bar patron. A bit of smelling salts wakes up the drunken woman but, as the paramedics are exiting the building, Johnny Gage is spectacularly hit by a car. Ah! Johnny whumping!
Season Five is a great watch for all fans of the show, not just those who love to see Johnny in distress. We get a little more variety in the action as Johnny and Roy spend some time out of their squad. In one episode, they are called to aid the coast guard in a sea rescue of a man who falls off a cliff on Catalina Island. In another, while on a flight from Sacramento, they must attend to a fellow passenger who is suffering from a heart attack. We also see more of the staff at Rampart than we have in previous seasons.
The collection includes one extra: An Adam-12 episode titled Lost and Found in which Johnny and Roy appear briefly.
Read Naomi's review of season four.
Order season five of Emergency! from Amazon.
Naomi J. Krueger
For more reviews from Naomi, and the rest of the Crimespree crew, check out the index of reviews.
Read More......
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Blu-ray Review: BEING THERE
Warner Home Video
Release date: February 3, 2009
MSRP: $28.99
Director: Hal Ashby
Stars: Peter Sellers, Shirley MacLaine, Richard Dysart, Melvyn Douglas, Jack Warden
Ignorance is bliss.
That phrase pretty much sums up Chance, Peter Sellers' character in the film Being There. Chance is a rather clueless gardner that loses his home when his caregiver dies. While wandering the streets of Washington D.C., he is hit by Eve Rand (Shirley MacLaine), the wife of an ailing wealth businessman.
Eve brings Chance back to her home, where he unwittingly charms and impresses not only the Rands, but their many powerful friends, including the President (played well by Jack Warden).
I should take a moment to mention that Chance spends ALL of his time either gardening or watching television. These two things are the source of his sage advice. He offers simple statements that seem to strike home with those that seek his advice.
While there is certainly satire in Being There, the film is a lot more. It has some surprisingly touching moments as well. Eve's husband Ben is dying and finds comfort in the outlook of Chance. The scenes between the two of them (especially Ben's final scene) are powerful and can't help but touch your heart.
Video:
Being There is presented in 1080p with a ratio of 1.85:1 with the VC-1 codec. The overall quality is pretty good, there is some noticeable removal of digital noise, but not so much that it detracts from the overall viewing experience. To be honest, I was expecting more issues, but the color is good and the blacks are strong.
Just short of a massive restoration, this is as good as it is going to be.
Sound
This is pretty basic. There are two soundtracks offered, single channel Mono and TrueHD. Both sound pretty good, with the THD doing a slightly better job of removing hiss. But even the Mono is mostly clear of said hiss.
Extras:
Memories From Being There clocks in at slightly under 15 minutes. Ileana Douglas, granddaughter of Melvin Douglas (Ben Rand) providing quite a bit of insight on not only her grandfather, but on the production itself. Douglas and Sellers knew each others for years prior to the film. Apparently it was Sellers that recommended Douglas for the role. This is an interesting piece that I wish was longer.
Many consider Being There to be Seller's finest film. I honestly don't see it. I agree it is a smart, funny film, but just don't consider it one of the all time greats. That said, this release looks great and should be THE version to own if Being There is to be in your library.
Order Being There on Blu-ray from Amazon.
Jeremy Lynch
For more reviews from myself, and the rest of the Crimespree crew, check out the index of reviews.
Blu-ray Review: ZODIAC
Paramount Home Entertainment
Release date: Jan 27, 2009
MSRP: $36.99
Director: David Fincer
Stars: Jake Gyllenhaal, Robert Downey Jr., Mark Ruffalo, Anthony Edwards, Brian Cox
Based on the book by Richard Graysmith, Zodiac looks at the infamous Zodiac killer that terrorized and captivated California in the mid 70s. The case was never officially solved, but filmmaker David Fincher has chosen to take a stab at not only recreating the case, but also looking further into it and giving us some extra tidbits to ponder.
Zodiac is beautifully shot and well acted. Fincher and crew have painstaking gone over all records to provide as accurate a telling as possible. They deserve credit for this as most filmmakers would have crashed and burned with as ambitious a project as this.
But while it is factually accurate with excellent pacing and acting, I walked away from this wondering exactly what was the point? Why was it made? To me, Zodiac felt like the big screen version of one of the true crime shows that are always on A&E (I can hear the late Paul Winfield narrating it in my head).
To me, a better film might have been made by taking a closer look at Graysmith and his obsession with the Zodiac. He lost/quit his job, lost his wife and kids, for this. What was it that made this a fair trade? Was it something that we, the casual public, couldn’t see? It was touched on a bit in the film, but never tackled in depth.
Video:
Zodaic is presented in 1080p with a 2.35:1 ratio. The film looked great on DVD so it should come as no surprise that the BD is killer. Because it was shot digitally in the first place, the image is as close to flawless as can be. There is no grain or scuffs anywhere.
The night shots are where it really shined. There is a scene in which Graysmith confronts a suspect that, while edgy the first time around, is just chilling. The blacks are good and the contrast is outstanding. The day shots are almost as good, with the individual blades of grass standing out.
Audio:
The soundtrack is presented in Dolby TrueHD 5.1. The sound is good, but the extra channels are not used all that much. The mix is fine, but don't expect audio magic.
The bonus features are first rate. One look at these and it is clear just how much this project meant to Fincher and company. What we get is a mix of behind the scenes features and true crime documentary footage. Anyone with even a casual interest in the Zodiac case will really enjoy this stuff.
Fincher also provides us with a commentary track that is stellar. The commentaries on his past films (Se7en, Fight Club) were excellent and he continues that trend here. Some nuts and bolts commentary about the technical aspects of filmmaking, but also plenty of anecdotes about the shoot and his time with the cast and crew. A second commentary is also included, one with castmembers (Jake Gyllenhaal, Robert Downey Jr.), producer Brad Fisher, screenwriter/producer James Vanderbilt and author James Ellroy. This second track is also worth checking out; as we get plenty of interesting chatter from the actors while the other three really dig into the original case as well as the research that went into preparing for the film.
The second disc of extras is simply amazing. As I said before, Fincher spent an inordinate amount of time doing research for this film and the evidence is here for our viewing pleasure.
The extras are broken into 2 different headings: FILM & FACT. Film gives us a look at the making of the film. Interesting, but pretty much the kind of stuff you would expect.
The most interesting stuff is under FACT. We get two documentaries that combine for about 2 ½ hours of pretty damn fascinating stuff. The first gives us a look at the entire case, with new interviews with those close to the case, including some survivors of the attacks. The second focuses on the primary suspect, Arthur Leigh Allen. This includes friends, family and even some of the investigating officers.
Zodiac is a film worth upgrading to HD. Fincher is a director that not only works hard to deliver a good film, but also a visually dynamic one. The Blu-ray format serves him quite well here.
Order the Zodiac Blu-ray from Amazon.
Jeremy Lynch
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Blu-ray release for Sin City announced.
Walt Disney Home Entertainment has announced they will be releasing a two-disc Blu-ray of Sin City on April 21st."Welcome to Sin City. This town beckons to the tough, the corrupt, the brokenhearted, some call it dark. Hard-boiled. Then there are those who call it home. Crooked cops. Sexy Dames. Desperate vigilantes. Some are seeking revenge. Others lust after redemption. And then there are those hoping for a little of both. A universe of unlikely and reluctant heroes still trying to do the right thing in a city that refuses to care."
Disc One: Theatrical Cut
*All new Cine-Explore – Innovative Blu-ray technology allows viewers to experience a uniquely interactive visual commentary that pushes the envelope. When selected, see picture-in-picture green screen footage and original art synced with the filmmakers' commentary.
*Commentary with Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller
*Commentary with Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino
*Audio Track Featuring a Recording of the Austin Audience Reaction
Disc Two: Unrated, Recut Extended Version
*All new “Kill ‘em Good” Interactive Comic Book - Dive into a visually stunning interactive game that puts you in the driver's seat. Exploiting the Blu-ray format in ways never before seen, you finish the story – with guns blazing!
*Four Chapters:
Chapter One- That Yellow Bastard
Chapter Two- The Customer Is Always Right
Chapter Three- The Hard Goodbye
Chapter Four- The Big Fat Kill
*Rodriguez Special Features:
15-Minute Film School
All Green Screen Version
The Long Take
Sin City: Live in Concert
10-Minute Cooking School
*How It Went Down: Convincing Frank Miller To Make The Film
*Special Guest Director: Quentin Tarantino
*A Hard Top With A Decent Engine: The Cars of Sin City
*Booze, Broads, and Guns: The Props of Sin City
*Making the Monsters: Special Effects Make-up
*Trench Coats & Fishnets: The Costumes of Sin City
*Teaser & Theatrical Trailer
MSRP: $35.99
Monday, February 23, 2009
NYPD BLUE - Jon dishes and rants
Over on Central Crimezone Jon gets a little something something off his chest about a cop show called NYPD Blue.
He's not bitter.....
And as a bonus, its loaded with links!
Blu-ray Review: THE PELICAN BRIEF
Warner Home Video
Theatrical release: December 17, 1993
Blu-ray release: February 10, 2009
MSRP: $28.99
Director: Alan J. Pakula
Stars: Julia Roberts, Denzel Washington, Sam Shepard, John Heard, Tony Goldwyn
Two Supreme Court Justices with almost nothing in common are assassinated. Tulane law student Darby Shaw (Roberts) writes a brief theorizing who's responsible, and her professor/lover Thomas Callahan (Shepard) shows it to a friend at the FBI, shortly after which Callahan is killed by a car bomb.
Finding an ally in Washington Herald reporter Gray Grantham (Washington), whom Callahan admired, Darby must survive long enough to corroborate publish her theory.
While it received less acclaim than The Firm, in Pakula's capable hands The Pelican Brief is a well-paced chase that rings with authenticity from its New Orleans and Washington DC location shoots, to its plot resembling All The President's Men, to its standout supporting cast (including John Lithgow, James B. Sikking, and Robert Culp).
The one extra on the Blu-ray release is the film's theatrical trailer, but considering the original DVD required flipping to watch the film in its entirety, the Blu-ray is a good buy for patient fans of the film or its stars.
Order the Blu-ray of The Pelican Brief from Amazon.
Gerald So
For more of Gerald's thoughts and observations, check out his blog: If you want to know about my Life...
For more reviews from Gerald, and the rest of the Crimespree crew, check out the index of reviews.
DVD Review: THE INVADERS: The Second Season
Paramount Home Entertainment
Release date: January 27, 2009
MSRP: $36.98
Stars: Roy Thinnes, Peter Mark Richman, Susan Oliver, John Milford, Kent Smith
This is the second and also final season of Invaders. The premise of this show developed by Larry Cohen is something that is kind of a template today, but back in 1967 it was pretty new. A man discovers the presence of aliens and no one believes him, he is on the run trying to prove the truth. The only other show I know of that did this was a cult UK show called The Omega Factor (Koch Vision). The premise was later taken to great heights by X-Files, but back in ’67 this was really new.
The show stars Roy Thinnes, who’s career is filled with many roles, including spots on Oz and Sopranos. Thinnes plays architect David Vincent who episode to episode is on the run, and trying to save Earth, whether anyone believes him or not. At first look it’s kind of cheesy by today’s standards, but truthfully it is a load of fun to watch. The colors are vibrant in the way the sixties show were, un afraid to make the most of the new color technology for TV. There were also a bunch of guest stars, early in their careers. Gene Hackman, Ed Asner, Richard Anderson ( A TV staple of the 70s), Suzanne Pleshette, Ed Begley, and Wayne Rogers.
Unlike a lot of Sci Fi shows they didn’t really rely too much on special effects. Given the special effects at the time it’s probably just as well. Dr. Who may have seemed cool when the sixties shows aired, but they look really dated now.
26 episodes worth of Season 2 are now out, and some website are offering both 1 and 2 together.
The Invaders was brought back for a mini series in 1995 that was basically universally hated. Thinnes had a small role in it.
Is this a must own show? I would say not really. Is it worth watching? I enjoyed it for what it is and for what they were trying to do. If you keep in mind where we were in 1967 and give them a little slack for that the show is pretty fun to watch.
Order The Invaders from Amazon.
Jon
For more reviews from Jon, and the rest of the Crimespree crew, check out the index of reviews.
Gischler, Smith bringing Lasalle story to the big screen.
It has finally been announced:
Acclaimed authors Victor Gischler (Gun Monkeys, the forthcoming The Deputy) and Anthony Neil Smith (Yellow Medicine and the forthcoming Hogdoggin') have written Pulp Boy, the screenplay based on the life of legendary pulp writer Emerson Lasalle.
Lasalle's career covered the realms of horror, Western, Science Fiction and even the crime genre, and include such works as Vixen Shamus, Guns of Old Mars, Sheriff Dracula and Whorebots of Planet Vegas.
Emerson Lasalle's life was almost as interesting as his writings. Early in his life, he served in the French Foreign Legion. It was while serving that he lost a hand in a confrontation with an Arab. His choice to serve came shorly after his parents died in a blimb accident.
Mr. Lasalle had a reknowned love for alcohol. It was while under the influence of booze that, in the mid 70s, he sucker punched Theodore Geisel. Geisel was better known as Dr. Seuss.Even past the one hundred year marker, he was still able to drink Neil and Victor under the table. That is a feat rarely accomplished by folks much younger.
It is quite possible that the booze played a role in his death, but there seems to be some conflicting reports on exactly how said death came. Some say he picked a fight with a bear, others suggest he passed during an alchohol induced sleep and some even think it was alcohol that promoted him to pick a fight with a bear.
After his passing, comments came in from all over the publishing world, including Bill Crider and Sean Doolittle. Any writer that can gain the respect of such talented writers is a special one indeed.
Some of you may know that Lasalle's work influenced Victor a fair amount and was a major inspiration for GO-GO GIRLS OF THE APOCALYPSE.
Victor got to know Mr. Emerson is his last few and felt compelled to tell his story. The relationship started out rocky, but Victor and Emerson became friends.
Working with Emerson was apparently quite the experience. "I think he was just inventing most of the shit he told us," Neil said "I'm pretty sure he told five conflicting versions of the same story. In fact, near the end I just started making up my own stuff and reading it back to him, and he couldn't tell the difference. As long as we were buying the booze, he'd hang around and put up with us."
But Neil is thankful for the experience and said that Lasalle gave him great insight into not just writing, but the film world as well. Dr. Smith recently shared some of that advice on his blog.
Producer Jake Dickey shares some of his memories of Lasalle's work "Emmerson LaSalle was an icon. He may not have ever been a New York Times best-selling author, but he was quite popular, particularly in many non-english speaking countries. I remember reading his 1972 paperback Crimson Twilight: The Martian Missile Crisis when I was a teenager, and being really touched by his imagination and idyllic whimsy. Victor Gischler was able to send me some great information that he had collected concerning LaSalle while working with him closely durring his last few years. One of his most quoted maxims, "Technology is ruining science fiction!" sums up his attitude quite well. He always stood by his mantra that literature is about people, not machines. He often said that he didn’t get into science fiction to write about stuff we already have. He wanted to write about stuff nobody’s ever seen, and that nobody ever will see. Though that may have sometimes involved lobster people or armies of invisible naked alien battle-android babes, he wanted to create dreamers, not worriers.
But Dickey is excited not just about the project, but also at the chance to work with Smith and Gischler: "I am very excited, and honored, to be working with such talented storytellers. They have done an excellent job of bringing together various pieces of LaSalle's life and presenting them in a way that will really appeal to a mass audience, even for those who are not familiar with LaSalle or his published works."
Victor is equally pleased with working with Dickey: "Jake Dickey is a young, new producer, but after exchanging ideas with him, I feel totally confident he "gets" what Neil and I are doing in the screenplay. I'm a huge supporter of independent film, and I'm excited to see what happens."Neil went one step further: "Dickey's enthusiasm just hooked us. The proposal he wrote--low budget, using RED, no stars--showed he had balls. Giant brass ones. We're rooting for him to knock it out of the park."
I will bring more news as it happens on this exciting project. Read More......
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Academy Awards
I don't remember who won everything, but that's not why I'm posting.
This year the evening ran a little different, it felt smooth and was really fun. Hugh Jackman was terrific and right at home, funny, singing and dancing , it was great to watch.
The presentations were really nice. My only complaint was the little lesson in what each job is. But I loved that previous winners came out to introduce the nominees. After listening to what each previous winner said how could the people nominated not feel like winners, it was really nice.
I have to say I enjoyed this years show much more than I have in the past.
Also, not being invested in who one for what was nice. I'm glad the people who won did, but it wasn't that important to me.
I do have to say though, Robert Downey Jr. for Tropical Thunder? Yikes.
And Ben Stiller could take a year or two off, he's just not that funny doing a schtick every single year.
Entertainment Weekly's top 25 active directors.
First, let me give a tip o' the hat to Bill Crider for bring this to my attention.
Entertainment Weekly's web site has put together a list (the site likes making lists) of the top 25 active directors.
I will let you all check it out, but I am thinking drugs are involved.
1. Steven Spielberg
2. Peter Jackson
3. Martin Scorsese
4. Christopher Nolan
5. Steven Soderbergh
6. Ridley Scott
7. Quentin Tarantino
8. Michael Mann
9. James Cameron
10. Joel and Ethan Coen
11. Guillermo del Toro
12. David Fincher
13. Tim Burton
14. Judd Apatow
15. Sam Raimi
16. Zack Snyder
17. Darren Aronofsky
18. Danny Boyle
19. Clint Eastwood
20. Ron Howard
21. Ang Lee
22. Paul Thomas Anderson
23. Paul Greengrass
24. Pedro Almodóvar
25. Jon Favreau
So Snyder's Dawn of the Dead and 300 trumps Eastwood's Mystic River, Unforgiven, Million Dollar Baby, Play Misty for Me, Flags of our Fathers and Gran Torino?
Jackson above Coens and Scorsese?
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Crimespree publishers in the news.
Jon and Ruth Jordan, proud parents of the Crimespree family, were recently the subject of an article in the Chicago Tribune.
For those of you not familiar with Jon and Ruth, they are two of the finest folks one could ever have the good fortune to meet.
I am proud to be a part of the Jordan clan.
Read all about it.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Television Gems that did not make it.
Most television shows that fail do so for good reasons, but some fail because of stupid Networks, stupid Network execs or stupid viewers.
Lee and I were talking about really great shows that died before their time. We came up with four very strong ones and are wondering what shows you think deserved better.
Firefly: By now, everyone likely knows the story. Joss Whedon's western set in space had great characters, fun dialogue and cool action. Fox aired the episodes out of order and pre-empted the show more than once. Even as a fan that watched it, I never knew when it was on. Thirteen Episodes were made.
Sports Night: Aaron Sorkin's look behind the scenes at a Sports Center-type show that featured Peter Krause, Felicity Huffman, Josh Charles, Joshua Malina, Sabrina Lloyd and Robert Guillaume. It was smart, it was funny, it was Sorkin at his finest. It was one of the first dramedy shows and many were quite sure what to make of it. It lasted two seasons. Had The West Wing not been running at the same time, Sorkin likely would have taken Sports Night to cable.
Kidnapped: This is the one that many of you are likely unfamiliar with. It featured Jeremy Sisto as a Kidnapping expert that is called in when the son of a powerful couple (Timothy Hutton, Dana Delaney) is...well, kidnapped. Delroy Lindo also starred as F.B.I. Agent Latimer King. The show was smart and kept you guessing. Sadly, NBC did not air all 13 eps in a row, folks had to watch the latter ones online to see what happened. I think that they did air them six or seven months later, in the middle of the summer.
My final pick is Intelligence. This Canadian show lasted two glorious seasons. It reminded me of The Wire in that the "good" guys were always all that good and the "bad" guys not all that bad. Ian Tracey starred as Jimmy Reardon, a criminal kingpin that loves his daughter, avoids violence whenever possible and appears to have a conscience. Don't get me wrong, he is still a criminal and the show does not let us forget that. Klea Scott plays Mary Spalding, the head of Vancouver's organized crime unit. She wants to uphold justice, but also climb the ladder to the top. She and Jimmy form an uneasy alliance, doing just enough to keep the other willing to co-operate.
In my mind, a Gem would have had two or less seasons. Shows like Veronica Mars should have continued, but they did a lot in the three years they had so it was not a total crime.
What other really great shows did not make it?
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
DVD Review: FRIDAY THE 13TH: THE SERIES: The second season.
Paramount Home Entertainment
Release date: February 10, 2009
MSRP: $49.99
Stars: John D. LeMay, Louise Robey,Chris Wiggins
Lewis Vendredi dealt in antiques...antiques that were cursed by the devil, with whom Lewis had a deal. These items would benefit those that possessed them, but usually at the cost of an innocent life. After years of a mutually beneficial relationship, Lewis decides he wants out of the deal. Not surprisingly, Lewis soon passes away.
Upon inheriting Uncle Lewis's shop, Mikki and Ryan have a huge sale, with can’t miss prices, and pretty much damn the masses.
After a time, they are visited by Jack Marshak, a stage magician and expert on the occult. It seems that Mr. Jack supplied some of the items to Louis, not knowing what was happening. Jack, Mikki and Ryan agree to work together to recover the items. Because these items bestow powers and good fortune, the new owners are understandably reluctant to give them up, so recovering each is an adventure. Using Uncle's sales registry, Mikki, Ryan and Jack set out to track down the owners and recovered these malevolent trinkets.
I was very interested in how I would react to season two. I knew that nostalgia colored my review of season one, so I was curious to see how season two would hold up. Honestly, it is better than the first. The strength of the stories really stands out here.
One of my favs here is The Playhouse. A playhouse takes care of a pair of neglected youth while snacking on various children the brother and sister lure in. Not a bad idea, it certainly could help both the homeless and take care of our population problem.
Now the negatives: Like last time, the video and audio quality is mediocre at best. It is almost as though these were transferred from a bunch of VHS tapes. Also like last time, there are no extras.
Paramount, would it have KILLED you to spend a little coin on restoration and a few measly extras? Show us a little love here!
Perhaps the best move would have been to arrange a deal with Shout! Factory or another company that specializes in cult classics. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate this being available, but the picture quality and lack of extras makes it less than ideal.
That said, season two is an impressive one, fans of horror/supernatural suspense will have a blast with the tales spun here. I heartily recommend this set.
Order season two of Friday the 13th: the series from Amazon.
Jeremy Lynch
For more reviews from myself, and the rest of the Crimespree crew, check out the index of reviews.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Crimespree Website Updated
The website for Crimespree has been updated and all the book reviews and DVD reviews for Jan/Feb are up. There is also the George Chesbro tribute from the latest issue. Check it out here Crimespree Magazine
Friday, February 13, 2009
Dollhouse - the new Joss Whedon show
Is Fox taking a gamble on another Joss Whendon show? It doesn't seem like much of a gamble. While his previous show Fire fly fizzled it has a huge cult following and enough interest to get a movie made. His Buffy franchise, including the Angel Spin off were hits. He's also made a splash writing comics.
DOLLHOUSE is ready to be a hit.
So lets look at the show. Big corporation wipes peoples minds clean and reprograms them, selling services to people with the cash to pay.
A little like Le Femme Nikita in that our heroine is given a way out of trouble, here it's work for the company that wipes the mind , five years service.
The premise offers a lot of possibilities for stories, that's good. It is also loaded with recognizable TV actors and actresses.
Eliza Dushku (Buffy, Angel) as Echo. Shes our focus, the hero of the story.
Tahmoh Penikett (Battlestar Galactica) is FBI Agent Paul Ballard tracking down the dollhouse.
Reed Diamond (Homicide) is the securtiy chief.
Also starring are :Olivia Williams ,Fran Kranz, Harry Lennix and others.
The opening episode has Echo being programmed to help recover a girl taken in a kidnapping. No jusitce, just recovery. It wwas a good opener, it shows the characters and helps establish early on who to root for. There is obvously a lot of back story to unfold but it promises to be interesteing. FBI agent tracking the Dollhouse, Someone track Echo, and willing to kill to do it. The People running the Dollhouse seem a bit ambivalent about doiong the right thing, but the handler for Echo , an ex cop seems conflicted.
I liked it and will watch more. I think this will be great on disc so I can watch it all in just a few sittings uninterpted.
I also applaud Fox for running fewer commercials during the show.
The Hardy Men project still alive.
A couple of years ago, I reported that Ben Stiller and Tom Cruise were set to star in The Hardy Men, a comedy based on the popular young adult mysteries.
Enough time has gone by that I started to think it was either a joke or something that sounded good at the time, but faded away in the face of more legitimate projects.
It turns out the film is still on track.
Ed Solomon has been hired to have a go at the screenplay. Lord knows how many drafts have been done already, I know that Simon Kinberg (Mr. And Mrs. Smith) did one. Solomon's resume is a mixed bag. He wrote for the very cool "It's Garry Shandling's Show" as well as Men In Black and Bill and Ted's Excellent adventure, but is also behind the remake of The In-Laws as well as Super Mario Brothers.
The general idea remains the same, the two brothers are now grown up and not getting along. Something happens and they have to work together to solve the crime.
DVD Review: OUR MAN IN HAVANA
Release date: Feb 3rd, 2009
MSRP: $19.94
Director: Carol Reed
Stars: Alec Guinness, Maureen O'Hara, Burl Ives, Ernie Kovacs, Noel Coward
I remembered Our Man in Havana (Columbia Martini Movie)as a good film. I'd forgotten what a little gem it is. Written by Graham Greene, novel and screenplay this follows Alec Guinness pre George Smiley into the world of the spy and posits that you can't lie down with dogs and not get fleas...or worse. From the opening credit that states it was filmed in Cuba 'before the recent revolution', 1953 if memory serves, into the rather lighthearted first scenes, vacuum cleaner salesman Jim Wormold decides to scam the British Government for the extra money he needs for his growing daughter. Lifting names randomly from the Country Club register where said daughter boards her horse he creates a network of agents whose checks he can cash.
When he begins to send drawings of vacuum cleaners as secret facili! ties in the mountains to the powers that be he is flavor of the month and they send him a staff, a radio operator and Maureen O'Hara. Things have taken a decidedly sticky turn and he scrambles to cover his tracks. Then one of his fictitious agents is killed and things are spinning wildly out of control and the tone takes on a somber note.
This is a great cast with the two mentioned above, Burl Ives as the German Doctor and long time friend, and Ernie Kovacs as the slimy Police Captain with designs on Jims daughter.
I don't want to give away too much but at one point Jim needs a gun and the Captain has one.
This is no James Bond spy thriller but in its low keyed way it is indeed a thriller. Miss it to your detriment.
This is a black and white film which I only mention in case they give you hives.
The specials aren't but a film of this caliber doesn't need them.
Order Our Man in Havana from Amazon.
Lee Crawford
For more reviews from Lee, and the rest of the Crimespree crew, check out the index of reviews.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Victor Gischler's GO-GO GIRLS OF THE APOCALYPSE: Author, producer share thoughts on project.
Wyman was behind the phenominal Monster with Charlize Theron and Christina Ricci. Unfortunately, he was also involved with Pamela Anderson's Barb Wire, but you have to take the good with the bad. It is also worth noting that Mr. Wyman is one of the producers for Blitz, the film based on the Ken Bruen novel of the same name.
For you sad bastards that have not read Go-Go Girls, it is Victor's take on a post-war world, with sex, violence, gambling and capitalism.
I reached out to both to get their impressions of each other.
Wyman called Go-Go Girls "an E ticket ride through hell" and said that "It is my favorite type of literature -- Expoltation that is so brilliant and it becomes Art and therefore creates it's own Genre = Artsploation.I am thrilled to embarking on the motion picture."
I asked Victor about this deal and he is very pumped about the prospects: "Producer Brad Wyman is clearly an avid reader. I've heard that some producers have assistants summarize books for them, but in a recent phone call to Wyman, it was clear the man had closely read the novel and that he was giving careful thought to the film adaptation. Talking to him made me very enthusiastic about the possibilities."
Victor also mentioned a promotional idea that Wyman came up with: A limited run of Joey Armageddon's Platinum Cards which were featured in the novel.
Personally, Brad sounds like the right kind of guy to make Go-Go happen. Let us all cross our fingers and hope this happens!
DVD/Blu-ray info: Art, details for Tell No One.
On March 31st, MPI will be releasing Tell No One on Blu-ray and DVD.
"Guillaume Canet’s suspenseful and heartbreaking film, adapted from American crime novelist Harlan Coben’s bestseller, was a sensation in France in 2006 and was nominated for nine Cesars, the French equivalent of the Academy Awards. It won four, for director Canet, Best Actor Francois Cluzet and for its editing and original music. Additionally, the film was named in 2008’s Top Ten lists in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, USA Today, and more.
Cluzet plays Alexandre Beck, a pediatrician who was a suspect in the death of his wife, Margot, a murder eventually pinned on a serial killer. But eight years later, two bodies are found near the spot where Margot’s corpse was discovered, and the police reopen her case – and Alexandre again becomes a suspect. Adding to Alexandre’s emotional and psychological turmoil is the recent arrival of a mysterious e-mail that seems to prove that Margot (Marie Josee-Croze) is still alive and includes the cryptic message to “tell no one.” Kristin Scott Thomas (“The English Patient,” Best Actress Golden Globe nominee for this year’s “I’ve Loved You So Long”) has the pivotal role of Helene Perkins, the lone friend of the increasingly isolated Alexandre."
Extras:
Deleted scenes
MSRP: DVD $27.98, Blu-ray $34.98 Read More......
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Cruise joins Washington, Cronenberg for Ludlum's Matarese Circle.
Tom Cruise is going to join Denzel Washington in David Cronenberg's film version of Robert Ludlum's The Matarese Circle.
I have to say this sounds very good to me. Cronenberg has, in the last few years, proven himself to be a master of the crime genre, I can't wait to see what he does with the world of spies.
Cruise is stepping into a production that is going to require him to be part of the team, Cronenberg is not a director that bows down to the actors. That is not to say he does not work with them, but that he is not a yes man there to do what the stars want.
These three have me very interested in this project.
As was previously reported, the screenplay is from Michael Brandt and Derek Haas, with some input from Cronenberg. The two most recently wrote Wanted and are also responsible for the 2007 remake of 3:10 to Yuma as well as the stinky 2 Fast 2 Furious.
U.S. agent Bradly Scofield and Russian agent Vasili Taleniekov have been enemies
for years. Each is responsible for the death of one close to the other. When an
organization of assassins, known as The Matarese, emerges, the two are forced to
work together to stop the group.
That is the plot for the original story. The story will reportedly be updated, but will keep the tone and flavor of the novel.
Read More......Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Kate Hudson and Jim Thompson??
In what appears, at least to me, strange casting, Kate Hudson has signed on for the upcoming adaptation of James Thompson's The Killer Inside Me.
Thompson was a master of Noir and lived in the darkest of the dark, Kate Hudson often stars in C gr...D grade comedies with Matthew McConaughey and Dane Cook. To be fair, she was quite good in Almost Famous (Nine years ago).
Also coming on board with Miz Hudson is Bill Pullman (While You Were Sleeping, Independance Day), Ned Beatty (Deliverance, Superman) and Elias Koteas (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, upcoming Shutter Island).
Casey Affleck and Jessica Alba have already been announced, with Michael Winterbottom directing.
Filming should start in late March.
Monday, February 09, 2009
Blu-ray Review: ANY GIVEN SUNDAY
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Warner Home Video
MSRP: $28.99
Director: Oliver Stone
Stars: Al Pacino, Jamie Foxx, Cameron Diaz, James Woods, Aaron Eckhardt, L.L. Cool J, Lawrence Taylor
When Oliver Stone announced plans to do a film on professional football, the powers that be in the Gridiron world almost certainly let out a collective "oh shit" for fear that the controversial director would go after their beloved sport like a pit bull on a child's arm.
Did that happen?
Yes and no.
Any Given Sunday certainly does head into the sport's closets, pulling out many of it's skeletons. It looks at the money games, the drugs, ego, sex and greed that have become a very real part of the world of professional football, but it also displays a love and appreciation of the sport.
Al Pacino stars as Tony D'Amato a legendary coach that is now coming under fire, with suggestions that the sport as passed him by. The local sports writers question his place in the modern game and the current owner Christina Pagniacci (Cameron Diaz), the daughter of the previous owner, wants her club to reflect the modern generation and even potential move to a more apply locale.
When veteran quarterback Cap Rooney (Dennis Quaid) is injured, third stringer Willie Beaman (Jamie Fox) is thrust into the spotlight. A couple flashy plays later, Willie is the talk of the town and is experiencing fame and fortune like he has never seen before. Not surprisingly, his head swells amidst the adoration of the sports writers, fans and ladies.
Those are the characters at the fore front of the film, but the screen is filled with many other compelling characters, Washington (L.L. Cool J) is the running back that is as interested in collecting bonuses as he is yards, Dr. Harvey Mandrake (James Woods) the team doctor that struggles with the moral issues of enabling questionable players to head back onto the field as a result of pressure from not only those players, but the upper management as well, and Shark Lavay (Lawrence Taylor), the battered heart of the team's defense.
Stone does a damn good job here. That the characters are compelling should come as a shock to no one, but the football scenes are breathtaking! Stone delivers footage that looks like the real thing.
The loaded cast does an excellent job. Jamie Fox delivers a fine performance in his first real dramatic and Cameron Diaz really shines here. One expects James Woods and Al Pacino to deliver the goods, but Diaz? In her confrontations with Pacino, she holds her own, making those scenes explosive.
AGS does stumble on occasion, as it attempts to tackle virtually every possible aspect of the game and gets bogged down as a result. Stone wants to talk about so many different things, that you start to become numb after a while.
Had the film been more streamlined, it would have been a littl more effective.
Video:
Visually Any Given Sunday is a mixed bag. The film is presented in 1080p, with a VC-1 encode, and a 2.35:1 ratio. The camera work is outstanding, and the game footage is breathtaking. The colors are crisp (the grass and uniforms really pop) and the contrast is excellent. Unfortunately there is print damage that is noticeable, as is some digital noise. While the cinematography is highlighted by the HD presentation, so too are the flaws. I am surprised they could not find a better print to use for this transfer.
Audio:
I can't think of a single negative thing to say on this front, the TrueHD 5.1 track is outstanding. It is crystal clear and features an excellent mix. Everything sounds just fine, with nothing being muscled out. When I originally watched it, I noticed the strong use of music, that becomes far more evident here. The rock and rap really add something special to Any Given Sunday. Subtitles are offered in English, French, Spanish, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, German, Italian, Korean, Norwegian, Portuguese and Swedish. Stone must be more popular overseas than I would have imagined. There are also 5.1 Dolby tracks for Italian, German, Spanish and French.
Extras:
We are offered two commentary tracks, one of Director Stone and one with actor Jamie Fox. Stone gives a mellow, educational narration. I swear, this track could be considered a lecture from Intro to Film. As a total film geek, I found this quite interesting. Casual viewers may not get as much out of the Stone track. For those, I recommend the Fox one. Jamie is fun and offers anecdotes with a blend of humor.
We are also given Fox's screen test, this comes in at around seven minutes. It shows some home footage of him displaying his physical skills and doing a reading. This was one of his first dramatic roles, it is interesting to watch him before he became more polished.
Full Contact: the making of Any Given Sunday was made for HBO and runs around 27 minutes. Your standard BTS piece, but is still worth watching. You get to see just how much testosterone was flying around on the set. Stone talks about his motivation for making this film.
The deleted scenes are actually pretty good. This is rather scary considering how long the film is to begin with. It looks like Stone could have made this sucker three hours and still had a solid film.
There are also a gag reel, some instant replay footage of football scenes, music videos, some picture galleries and a theatrical trailer.
AGS is a solid film that looks at the world of professional football with an unblinking eye, while not removing all of the joy of the game. As this is the HD version, it is a pity they could not have cleaned up the print a bit more, but the overall quality is still good. An impressive cast and compelling story make this a film that can be enjoyed by not only sports buffs, but the general public as well. Just don't come looking for a happy, go-lucky film, as Stone offers us a very gritty look at the sport.
Order the Any Given Sunday Blu-ray from Amazon.
Jeremy Lynch
For more reviews from myself, and the rest of the Crimespree crew, check out the index of reviews.
English version of Tell No One appears to be on the way.
Tell No One, based on the Harlan Coben novel of the same name, is about a doctor who discovers that his long-lost wife may still be alive.
Sunday, February 08, 2009
Sakey's Good People optioned (with comments from Sakey and screenwriter Kelly Masterson.
Kelly was just as kind when asked about Marcus and the book:
Marsus Sakey is a popular fellow in Hollywood these days. Not only has his The Blade Itself been optioned, but his latest, Good People has as well.
Actor Tobey Maguire(Spiderman, Pleasantville)'s Maguire Entertainment and Film 360 have acquired the film rights to GP.
A family, and the security to enjoy it: that’s all Tom and Anna Reed ever wanted. But years of infertility treatments, including four failed attempts at in vitro fertilization, have left them with neither. The emotional and financial costs are straining their marriage and endangering their dreams.
Then one night everything changes. Offered a chance at a future they'd almost lost hope in, they seize it. One simple choice. A fairy tale ending.
But Tom and Anna soon realize that fairy tales never come cheap. Because their decision puts them square in the path of ruthless men. Men who've been double-crossed, and who won’t stop until they get revenge.
No matter where they find it.
Screenwriter/playwright Kelly Masterson has signed on to adapt the novel. Masterson previously wrote the screenplay for Sidney Lumet's Before the Devil Knows You're Dead.
I asked Marcus for his thoughts on the selection of Kelly for Good People:
"I think Before the Devil Knows You're Dead was one of the most interesting crime films of the last few years, and I absolutely love the way Kelly handles character development and dialogue. I couldn't be happier to have him handling GOOD PEOPLE."
"Good People is tense, compelling story about two good people who make very bad decisions and must pay the consequences. Tom and Anna are Everyman (and Everywoman) who make very human, flawed choices and we keep rooting for them to come to their senses and pull out of their tailspin. The villains are big, frightening and fascinating. The story grabs you, pulls you along and never, ever lets up. Marcus is a wonderful story teller and has a great, nuanced understanding of the human spirit in its strengths and frailties. He is remarkably gifted."
Trailer, new photos from In the Electric Mist
There are also a couple of new photos after the break.
Also on YouTube is a 1 1/2 minute clip featuring Dave (Tommy Lee Jones) and Balboni (John Goodman).
Blu-ray Review: Rent: Filmed Live on Broadway
Release date: Feb 3rd, 2009
MSRP: $38.96
Find anyone under the age of 35 who did theater in the five years before or after the millenium, and they will probably know every word of Rent. In the late nineties, my friends and I would drive around town, hair all Manic Panicked, smoking unnecessary cigarettes, blasting "Seasons of Love" and singing along like dorks. It didn't matter that we were lily white, drug-free, Midwestern college students who had never been to New York--or so much as met a person with HIV--this musical was for us and about us, and Jonathan Larson (who, famously and tragically, died of an aortic aneurysm the night before the show he wrote debuted off-Broadway) was our patron saint.
Loosely based on Puccini's tragic opera La Boheme, Rent is set in New York's Alphabet City, and tells the tale of a group of starving artists, including several infected with HIV. Inspiring a legion of followers (known as "Rentheads"...what else?), Rent won four Tony Awards including Best Musical, as well as the 1996 Pulitzer Prize for Drama.
Sadly, the 2005 film version, directed by Chris Columbus, was a slickly produced disappointment. While it was fun to see most of the original Broadway cast onscreen, the film version lacked the vibrant heartbeat of the live show. Elaborate sets and production numbers distracted from Rent's anti-establishment vibe, lines that were spoken rather than sung fell with a thud, and the exclusion of several songs outraged fans.
Thank goodness, then, for the BluRay/DVD release of Rent's final show on Broadway: it's like a little gift to anyone who ever rocked out to "Today 4 U". It is a no brainer that any fan will need to own this, but I also strongly urge anyone who thinks they don't like musical theater to give it a try, as the show is free of the corny razzle-dazzle that is generally associated with Broadway musicals, and full of humanity, integrity, and a rebellious spirit that will make you want to quit your 9-to-5 and start that band you never got around to when you were twenty.
Bonus Features include a retrospective on Rent's final days on Broadway, and documentaries on the Nederlander Theater, a glimpse at the famous backstage wall, and a history of casting Rent.
Viva la vie Boheme!
Jill Lynch
For more reviews from Jill, and the rest of the Crimespree crew, check out the index of reviews.
Saturday, February 07, 2009
Gerald So: A look at Leverage.
In the pilot, aired December 7, airline CEO Victor Dubenich (Saul Rubinek) approaches a drunk and listless Ford claiming a competitor has stolen his designs. He convinces Ford to coordinate three outlaws (Christian Kane, Beth Riesgraf, Aldis Hodge) he's hired to steal the designs back. When the team realizes Dubenich has conned them, they decide to run a scam on him.
That first brief description didn't prepare me for the tone of the show. Not another dark, brooding crime drama, Leverage is fast-paced and served with a sense of fun. In fact, the fun and huge payout of their first adventure is the reason the team stays together, setting up the high-tech Leverage Consulting and Associates to help underdog clients.
Each character was distinct enough in the pilot, but their chemistry together has come to a good place with three episodes remaining. Kane's character, Eliot Spencer, is an expert fighter and cook who doesn't like guns. Riesgraf's character, Parker, is a socially-inept cat burglar. Hodge's character, Alec Hardison, is a wisecracking
hacker. Rounding out the team is Gina Bellman as Sophie Devereaux, a ham actress and virtuoso grifter first brought in by Ford to scam Dubenich.
In addition to fooling villains, Leverage tries to keep viewers somewhat fooled until the end of each episode, when the full scope of the con is revealed in quick flashbacks as if to say, "Here's what Parker was really doing when..." In good episodes, the flashbacks tie up all the loose ends. In weak episodes, they leave me feeling cheated.
My biggest complaint, though, is that TNT hasn't aired the episodes inthe order they were filmed. While each episode can stand alone interms of plot, very important character arcs are missed as are the actors' learning how to better play their roles. Despite this,Leverage has had a respectable audience each week. On Feb. 2, TNT ordered a 15-episode second season to premiere later this year.
-- Gerald So
For more of Gerald's thoughts and observations, check out his blog: If you want to know about my Life...
DVD Review: MOONLIGHT: The complete series
Warner Home Video
Release date: Jan 20th, 2009
MSRP: $38.98
Stars: Alex O'Loughlin, Sophia Myles, Shannyn Sossamon, Jason Dohring
The popularity of Vampires seems to ebb and flow. In the mid 80s, Anne Rice had them a popular as ever. Joss Whedon brought them back in the late 90s with Buffy the Vampire slayer and Angel. Recently the Twilight novels have young ladies swooning all over again.
Moonlight features Mick St. John (Alex O'Loughlin), a private investigator that also happens to be a vampire. In the 21st century, vampires have adapted to modern life and integrated themselves into society. They strive to maintain the secrecy of their existence and co-exist with humans.
Of course there has to be a romantic angle: Mick is drawn to Beth (Sophia Myles), a reporter. Mick saved Beth many years earlier from being Vamped by his then-wife. Since then, he has kept an eye on her.
Moonlight, like many other fledgling shows, was a victim of the writer's strike. Ideally a show should not have to make changes mid-season, they should have an entire season to see what works. Sadly that is a thing of the past. There are some changes that occur that feel a bit abrupt.
Moonlight had the potential to be something pretty damn good, but it never seems to find its rhythm. Too many of the stories are similar and lack the energy needed to draw casual fans. Moonlight is fun, and fans of vampires will likely enjoy the series, but I can't help but think about what could have been done, instead of what was done.
Order Moonlight from Amazon.
Jeremy
For more reviews from myself, and the rest of the Crimespree crew, check out the index of reviews.
Timothy Hutton joins The Ghost.
THR is reporting that Oscar winner Timothy Hutton (Ordinary People, Beautiful Girls) has joined Roman Polanski's film version of Robert Harris' The Ghost.
A ghostwriter (Evan McGregor) is hired to finish the memoirs of an ex-British prime minister (Pierce Brosnan). The ghostwriter's research leads him to uncover skeletons in the pol's closet that put the writer's life in danger. Things are complicated further when the PM's wife (Oliva Williams) falls for the writer.
Hutton will play Brosnan's american lawyer.
The Ghost also stars Tom Wilkinson, Kim Katrall and James Belushi.
Nice addition, Hutton does fine work. While his fame came years ago with Ordinary People, he has delivered the goods on a number of series and films. If anyone has not seen his short-lived NBC series Kidnapped, I suggest you grab a copy, it is a damn good show. He also starred in A & E's Nero Wolfe Mysteries and is currently on TNT's Leverage, a fun caper series.
Check out our complete coverage of The Ghost.
Friday, February 06, 2009
DVD/Blu-ray Info: Collector's Edition of No Country for Old Men announced.
Buena Vista Home Entertainment has announced they will release the No Country For Old Men collector's edition on DVD (3-disc) and Blu-ray (2-disc) on April 7th.
Extras will be the same for both:
The Making of No Country for Old Men
Working with the Coens
The Diary of a Country Sheriff
New features:
Josh Brolin's Unauthorized Behind-the-Scenes
Q & A with Joel and Ethan Coen, Roger Deakins and the sound and production design teams
a Charlie Rose interview with the Coens
Brolin and Javier Bardem
EW.com's Just a Minute... with Javier Bardem,
Q & A from the Variety Screening series
Footage of an in-store appearance with Bardem and Brolin
ABC's Popcorn video
Channel 4 News appearance with the Coens
Lunch with David Poland interview with Bardem and Brolin
WNBC Reel Talk interview with Brolin
WGA West Q & A panel
6 additional interviews
Digital Copy of the film.
MSRP $32.98 for DVD, $39.98 for Blu-ray.
Carnahan, Scotts on board for A-Team (and why this is a good thing).
Fox has put the film version of The A-Team back on track.
Joe Carnahan has signed on to direct the action flick. Carnahan garnered considerable praise for his 2002 crime drama Narc and recently delivered the star-studded hyper violent mayhem-filled pulpy Smokin' Aces.
John Singleton had originally been attached to the project, but recently left. The departure of Singleton had many giving up on it, fearing it was destined to be a B grade cartoony film.
The attachment of Carnahan can only be seen as a positive. With Smokin' Aces, he showed he can deliver some crazy, over-the-top action, but Narc also showed a far more serious side. Regardless of the type of film he is working on, he takes it very serious and works his ass of. I can't see him letting this become another Dukes of Hazard or SWAT, and that has been the goal: Making a fun A-Team while avoiding the camp.
Carnahan has been floating in limbo for a while. He was going to write and direct a film version of James Elroy's White Jazz, with George Clooney and Chris Pine starring. The project suffered various delays and both actors dropped out due to scheduling conflicts. Carnahan most recently was working on bringing Killing Pablo to the big screen. Pablo recently ran into finance problems when the backer filed for bankruptcy.
Prior to Singleton leaving, a number of names had been tossed around. Woody Harrelson was reportedly Singleton's choice for Howlin' Mad Murdoch and rumors of Tyrese Gibson, Rapper/actor Ice Cube and even former UFC Light Heavyweight champion Quintin Rampage Jackson playing B.A. Baracas. Personally, I just don't see Tyrese in the role that Mr. T made famous. Cube seems right to me.
Carnahan has shown an ability to draw strong talent. Smokin' Aces had Ben Affleck, Ryan Reynolds, Andy Garcia, Common, Jeremy Piven, Ray Liotto and even Wayne Newton in the cast. Many in relatively small roles. I certainly have faith that he will put folks in the roles that make sense.
Carnahan and Brian Bloom will touch up the screenplay done by Skip Wood. Who the hell has the name Skip these days?
They will keep the updated concept that Singleton had, making the four Middle East vets instead of Vietnam. They will still have been wrongly convicted of robbery and be on the run from the military.
More good news for the project is that Ridley Scott is on board as producer, with his brother Tony executive producing.
The plan is to get the cameras rolling in August, and release it in June of 2010
AMC gives us a look behind the new Prisoner.
AMC is providing us with a look on set of the new Prisoner.
Thursday, February 05, 2009
DVD Review: Witness to the Mob
Koch Vision
Release date: Oct 14, 2008
MSRP: $29.98
Stars: Nicholas Turturro, Tom Sizemore, Debi Mazar, Abe Vigoda, Michael Imperioli
Originally airted as a miniseries on NBC in 1998 Witness to the Mob is the story of Sammy the Bull Gravano and was based, in part at least, on the book UNDER BOSS by Peter Maas. The cast is a who’s who of mob films and shows. The lead roles are Nicholas Turturro as Sammy The Bull and Tom Sizemore as John Gotti. Among the other players we have Jeffery Donovan of Burn Notice in a small role as an FBI agent and Abe Vigoda as Paul Castellano. Cast members of the Sopranos can be seen throughout
along with Frankie Valli and other perennial mob actors.
The total time comes in at 173 minutes and it shows us Gravano rising through the ranks to eventually come to be the number two under John Gotti. Gravano eventually turns states evidence and helps put away over thirty members of the Cosa Nostra.
I can’t tell you how factual it is as I don’t know enough about the material to say (though I will now be looking for some books on it) but for a made for TV production it is impressive. Tom Sizemore as Gotti was wonderful. Turturro has never been what I considered a strong actor but in Witness to the Mob he does a really nice job. I imagine his portrayal is a little gentler than the real man was, but it works here hinting at the real violence involved.
No extras here, but if you are a fan of mob movies put this on your list.
Order Witness to the Mob from Amazon.
Jon Jordan
For more reviews from Jon, and the rest of the Crimespree crew, check out the index of reviews.
Crimespree Issue 29
We're putting the finishing touches on the Marc April issue and it's looking great.
We have a cover story with CJ Box interviewed by Ruth Jordan
Interviews with Linda Fairstein,Barry Eisler and Andrew Grant by Jon
Articles from Ayo Onatade, Alan Salter(Sam Reaves). Reed Coleman, Craig McDonald, Declan Burke, Michael Lister, Sandra Ruttan and Shirley Kennett.
Three short stories including one from Kat Richardson
and the regular book reviews, the buzz box, Crime and Idiocy, DVD reviews and Eye on Hollywood, and more.
We also have tons of free books to give away including graphic novels from DC Comics and Moonstone, novels by Ira Berkowitz, CJ Box, Cara Black, Tim Dorsey, Barry Eisler, Brain Wiprud, Yrsa Sigurdardottir, Jordan Dane and Marcus Pelegrimas.
For details on how to win books you need to read the issue.
To subscribe just go here:
http://www.crimespreemag.com/subscribe.html
If you subscribe before March 1st and put the number 7 on the form or paypal notes we'll send you an extra issue free.
Steven Zahn, Kim Dickens in talks to join Treme.
The Hollywood Reporter is reporting that Steve Zhan (Out of Sight, That Thing you do!) is in discussions to join the cast of David Simon's upcoming HBO drama Treme.
According to the site, his character would be a "whip-smart street dancer, local radio DJ, band member and proud New Orleans native with anger issues."
I have always like Zahn, many of his films suck, but I have enjoyed him. It would be nice to see him step into a role that would give him a chance to really show off his acting and musci skills. He sings and plays guitar. In That Thing You Do, he played and sang.
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
DVD Info: Art, info for season two of Intelligence.
I have heard from a decent number of folks (Some of which purchased it through the link...thanks!) took my advice and picked up season one of Intelligence. Everyone of them have asked when more was coming.
Ask no more!
Acorn Media will be releasing season two on April 14th.
Information is the most addictive drug of all.
Winner of the Gemini for best drama and many other awards, this pulse-pounding series explores espionage in the international drug trade and beyond. The story centers around Jimmy Reardon (Ian Tracey), a Vancouver drug lord trying to go legit, and Mary Spalding (Klea Scott), the head of the Canadian intelligence service for the Pacific region. Although they work on opposite sides of the law, Reardon and Spalding form an uneasy undercover alliance to protect their turf from rivals inside and outside their organizations. All loyalties are negotiable in this high-stakes game, and the players use money, sex, drugs, and murder to secure the most powerful commodity of all—information.
Combining the crime family drama of The Sopranos with the sophisticated intrigue of The Wire, this critically acclaimed series spins a dark, daringly complex narrative web that ranks it among television’s best.
DVD FEATURES INCLUDE series creator Chris Haddock discussing Season 2, behind-the-scenes clips, Chris Haddock biography, character descriptions, cast filmographies, and more.
DVD 4-Vol. Boxed Set: 12 episodes; approx. 540 min.; 16:9 widescreen; color; stereo; drama
$59.99 U.S.
If you have not yet watched Intelligence, do yourself a favor and pick up season one. Fans of The Wire will love it.
DVD Review: Bottle Shock
20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
Release date: Feb 3rd, 2009
MSRP: $27.98
Director: Randall Miller.
Stars: Alan Rickman, Bill Pullman, Chris Pine, Dennis Farina, Freddy Rodriguez, Rachael Taylor
In 1976, the wine world was rocked when, in a blind taste test, wines from the Nappa Valley went toe to toe with those of France.
Bottle Shock tells that story (among others). Alan Rickman stars as Steven Spurrier, a wine salesman living in Paris. Spurrier organizes the tasting, certain that the sad little wines of California would not even come close to those of France. The Last week in Paris is organized in hopes of giving his shop a boost.
Bill Pullman plays Jim Barrett, owner of Chateau Montelena vineyard. He is struggling to make a go of it, with creditors snapping at his heels and a son that less than motivated.
When Bottle Shock focuses on Pullman, Rickman and the wine, it is quite enjoyable. Unfortunately, there are other storylines, including a love triangle that should have been left on the cutting floor. Had this film focused simply on the primary tale, I would give it a fairly enthusiastic thumbs up. But the subplots drag and make Bottle Shock uneven.
The cast is surprisingly loaded, with bit appearances by Denis Farina, Bradley Whitford and Eliza Dushku. But Rickman and Pullman are the ones that really shine. I can't think of any other Brit that can do the prickish Brit character as well as he. From the first time I saw him (Die Hard), I knew he was one of the good ones. Time and time again, he rewards my faith in him. Watching Rickman eating KFC and drinking wine from a jelly jar is great fun.
Extras:
We get a commentary track featuring a number of cast members. This is pretty enjoyable but, at times, is a bit messy with too many people chattering at once.
There are a couple of featurettes: An Underdog's Journey: The Making of Bottle Shock runs about 13 minutes and is your standard behind the scenes piece. It features the cast and crew as well as the real Jim Barrett. Chateau Montelena: One Winery's Search For Excellence appears to be some sort of promotional clip for the actual winery. This baby is a commercial, not a featurette.
Also included are a handful of deleted scenes are hardly worth mentioning.
I don't know if I can recommend buying Bottle Shock, but it is worth renting or watching on cable. Rickman and Pullman both do a good job and will provide for some very entertaining moments
Order Bottle Shock from Amazon.
Jeremy Lynch
For more reviews from myself, and the rest of the Crimespree crew, check out the index of reviews.
DVD Review: The LAST DETECTIVE: The Complete Collection
Acorn Media
Release date: Jan 20th, 2009
MSRP: $99.99
Stars:Peter Davidson, Emma Amos, Sean Hughes
Based on the books of Leslie Thomas The Last Detective follows Detective Constable Dangerous Davies(Peter Davidson) as he gets dumped with cases that no one else wants to take. Dangerous is a nice guy and that may be part of his problem, but it also works to his advantage as he almost always manages to solve the case.
Dangerous is a very average guy in the scheme of things and for me that’s part of the appeal. He’s in an office with two other detectives who want the flashy cases and want to move on. His boss, DI Aspinall just wants to get through the day and go have drinks. Davies gets on his nerves for just this reason, rather than write off a case as a suicide or accidental death and move on he wants do dig into it. As it happens Davies is almost always right and closes a lot cases as a result.
The back story for Davies includes a wife he’s separated from (Julie, played by Emma Amos)who he still loves madly. The series starts with them living separately with contact between them happening because of the St. Bernard they own together. This aspect of the show doesn’t detract from the stories and adds a nice depth to the series. Davies also has a friend named Mod played by Sean Hughes. Mod doesn’t have a
steady job, ever. He’s a nice guy and Davies is loyal to him, but he’s the kind of guy that would make most people crazy. Strangely he and Davies are great together and he is often, usually by accident, instrumental in helping solve cases. The dynamic between Mod and Julie is what makes us like him, it’s his doggedness and perseverance that make him a good copper, or at least an entertaining one for the viewer.
Viewers will most likely recognize Davidson, he was Dr. Who for a while and also played Tristan on All creatures great and Small. He’s aged well as an actor and is perfectly suited for the role which he plays to a T.
The Last Detective is a wonderful series for fans of British procedurals, and while it may be a bit tame for some, it is actually quite charming and at times engrossing. My only complaint is that I wish there was more.
The set has 17 episodes and also a bonus of the 1981 movie featuring Bernard Cribbins as Davies. The whole set comes in at 20 hours plus 110 minutes of bonus features.
Order The Last Detective from Amazon.
Jon Jordan
For more reviews from Jon, and the rest of the Crimespree crew, check out the index of reviews.
New Sherlock Holmes photo.
Here is a new photo from the upcoming Sherlock Holmes film. It comes from USA Today.
Shown are Jude Law (Watson), Downey jr. (Homes) and Rachael McAdams (Irene Adler).
Tuesday, February 03, 2009
The Tap will return!!
The legendary band Spinal Tap is reforming and recording new music.
Gigwise is reporting that Harry Shearer, Michael McKean and Christopher Guest will once again become the band known as Spinal Tap.
Shearer:
Sheared said: "We've never recorded the song we did at Live Earth, 'Warmer
Than Hell', and I think they (Spinal Tap) are trying to revisit their old
success. "Not that they were ever popular, maybe in their own universe. We'll do
a song called 'Gimme Some More Money', probably with some dubious
results."
According the article, the new music will be available online as well "conventional media."
You don't download Tap, you buy the record.
Fans will also be pleased to know that the Blu-ray edition of This Is Spinal Tap is being released on March 17th. Read More......
Monday, February 02, 2009
What a crazy last week or so!
A couple folks emailed me asking if everything was ok, since I had not posted as much in the last week.
We here at Crimespree Cinema have had quite a week or so:
Fears of possible Cancer (thankfully unfounded), false labor of employee, inventory at work and a POTENTIAL CASE OF TB!
I have 5-7 posts that need to go up, so the second half of the week should see reviews of Moonlight, Appaloosa, Last Detective, Rent, This American Life and Our Man in Havana, a look at the new director of The A-Team and why it just might make this far cooler than previously thought possible and more!
I am having a beer and getting to eat spiced chicken sausages.
Have fun!
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