- New blog post: News for week ending 2014-01-03 (open thread) http://t.co/maspk21B19 2014-01-05
- Sarah Weinman at NYT–The Murderer and the Manuscript: http://t.co/iJxv61zuB6 2014-01-10
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News for week ending 2014-01-10 (open thread) |
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Wow, it’s been a while since I’ve seen an update. Trent: I hope all is well.
Wanted to let the gang know I read a great new heist novel by a new writer whom I hope will be around a long time. The Thief Stalker by Adam Bronson is very Stark-esque, but Bronson has his own style too. The main character, Gerber, will remind you of Parker in some aspects, mainly he’s a consummate professional, but he’s not a knock-off. He has his own persona.
Highly recommended. Unfortunately, it’s only available as an E-Book, for $5.99. Hopefully Bronson will find a publisher to release hard copies, as he’s talented and deserves it.
I know this is not Westlake related, but I thought I’d mention a really terrific show I’ve been watching, which does happen to be a detective/crime show.
It’s HBO’s True Detective. It’s superbly written by it’s sole creator, Nic Pizzolatto. A murder mystery which takes place in New Orleans and it’s enviorns, the true gem of this show, for me, anyway, is the character of Russ Kohle, played astonishingly well by Matthew McConaughey, of all people.
On different message boards, fellow John D. MacDonald fans would eventually submit McConaughey to play Travis McGee, and I would usually snicker and post a disparaging comment about Mac’s acting ability.
No more. This dude can act. Kohle is a disturbing, extremely intelligent, bleak, wounded character. Woody Harrelson co-stars as Martin Hart, Kohle’s partner. And Harrelson is quite good as well.
This show can be quite eerie and foreboding at times. Due to the (besides the writing and acting) cinematography, music, and ambiance, all of which is first-rate. The make-up (the story takes place in 1995, 2002, and now) is believable–Mac and Woody really look the ages they portray in the different time periods.
But, again, Mac’s acting and the character of Russ Kohle is something special. If McConaughey does not win an Emmy for this show, there’s no justice.
I’m hoping to check that show out at some point soon. Maybe I’ll propose it to the girl once we catch up on Sons of Anarchy.
MM has certainly developed as an actor. He’s also apparently a humble and nice guy–he’s from Austin, where I live, so I hear about his interactions with regular folks. Someone I know very well has an overly-talkative and slightly crazy mother who cornered him at the supermarket once, and he couldn’t have been more polite.
I’ll add that fellow Austinite Sandra Bullock has the same reputation. Someone near and dear to me had an encounter with her one time, and she was the sweetest thing ever, and I’ve also heard anecdotes from people I don’t know as well.
I was really P.O.’d The Councelor, directed by Ridley Scott with an original script by Cormac McCarthy, didn’t get any nominations for an Oscar. I thought it was a subtle, disturbing, brilliantly acted crime drama about a lawyer (Michael Fassbender) who, to recover from some financial problems, decides to get involved in a major drug deal aided by Reiner (Javier Bardem) and Westray (Bradd Pitt). Things do not, to say the least, go as planned.
McCarthy’s script was on the same level of folks like Mamet and Michael Mann. For those who are like me and like really intelligent, adult dialogue, you’ll love this film. Excellent crime drama that got totally ignored.
I didn’t see it because the reviews were terrible (I only get so many nights at the theater), but it looked intriguing so I will likely check it out on video.
BTW, I saw Neeson’s latest action thriller, Non Stop, last week, and recommend it if you’re looking for a decent action flick with very good acting. Just don’t analyze the plot too closely, or get bummed by the typical cliches Hollywood insists on stuffing in there, such as Neeson meeting a love interest on the plane or having a little girl in peril at the climax.
It’s funny that at his advanced age, Neeson is becoming somewhat of a kick-ass action star. OK, he’s not THAT old, really I’d say late 50’s early 60’s could be considered middle-age. But in Hollywood terms, it’s ancient. I just hope he doesn’t include the Aikido and Krav Maga moves while playing Scudder, who is a more cerebral character. Lawrence Block has seen a rough cut, and claims it’s awesome, so I will take his word for it!
Darwyn Cooke’s new version of The Hunter is on the way. Bought 2 copies from IDW–1 for my collection, 1 to bring with me if I want to show the book to people/let them borrow, and 1 from Amazon that…well, I don’t know–I just bought 1 from Amazon. :-)
I want to support the project and I know the chances of Darwyn doing ALL the books in HC, including the Grofields, is much higher if they sell well. The Man With The Getaway Face is already scheduled for October, so that’s awesome as well.
Just got The Hunter. Wow; it is freaking unbelievable! Everything from the quality of the paper, the ink, the paintings, are simply gorgeous.
It is SO what I always hoped would happen one day: yes, Clue and I fantasised about a hardcover set of Parkers well before the announcement.
Cooke and IDW delivered!
So so cool and awesome. I can’t imagine any Stark/Parker fan could possibly be disappointed. I started rereading The Hunter again, for the fiftieth or so time, and just staring at and absorbing every detail of D.C.’s amazing paintings.
Yes, I know D.C. will probably only do one or maybe 2 more graphic novels adaptations and I’ve come to terms with that, but I offer 100 prayers to the Gods of Noir that D.C. and IDW do ALL the Stark hardcovers w/ these gorgeous paintings, and since Grofield’s one of my favorite characters, that includes his four adventures as well. It may take 6 or 7 years, but please D.C. and IDW, keep ’em comin’!
I echo David’s comments. The IDW hardcover of The Hunter is fantastic! Now that we have the first – it’ll be even harder to wait for the next 23 editions. (Not counting Grofield.)
Please – keep ’em coming.