Saturday, April 12, 2014
Nicolas Cage Update
Nicolas Cage in Joe: He Can Still Act!: Don’t Write Off Nicolas Cage Just Yet — He’s Great in David Gordon Green’s ‘Joe’
Friday, April 11, 2014
Jesse Winchester, R. I. P.
The Two-Way : NPR: , whose "blend of folk, blues and country ... embodies the spirit of American music," has died.
His manager, Keith Case, tells NPR's Jacob Ganz that Winchester died Friday morning in Charlottesville, Va., where he lived. He was 69 and had been battling cancer.
I Want to Believe!
Mail Online: Is Vlad keen on a trip? Putin eyes up cosmonaut uniform as his deputy premier sets out plans to colonise space and declares 'We are coming to the Moon FOREVER'
How Studios Can Lose Billions On Blockbusters And Still Make Money
The Tentpole Strategy Explained: How Studios Can Lose Billions On Blockbusters And Still Make Money: The answer, Boluk argues, is that the business of movies isn’t really the movies anymore. It’s “ancillary revenue,” which is a lot more complicated than dolls and lunch boxes.
FFB: No Chance in Hell -- Nick Quarry (Marvin H. Albert)
Marvin H. Albert had great pseudonyms. Can you think of a better one than "Nick Quarry" for a writer of hardboiled p.i. novels in the Spillane vein? Okay, maybe you can, but "Nick Quarry" sure is a good one. (Later on, Albert used this for a couple of "In the Tradition of the Godfather" novels for Gold Medal, too.)
The p.i. in this case is Jake Barrow, and a killer is after the daughter of his old war buddy. The killer has just shot Jake's girlfriend in the stomach. He's also shot Jake's buddy, and he's going to kill more before he's done. Jake isn't happy, and he doles out a lot of punishment. He takes a lot, too.
One thing you can count on in nearly every Albert novel, no matter the pseudonym, is an extended chase scene, always well done, always detailed. In this one novel, Barrow is chased into the drain tunnels under New York City. After he gets in, no one's pursuing him, but he still has to find a way out. It takes him fourteen pages to do it. There's another chase at the end of the book, but this one takes place in quite a different setting: Santa Fe. Albert must have enjoyed doing these scenes, and they're always entertaining.
There's a lot of violence in this book. It's the kind of book that blurb writers used to describe by saying, "Out-Spillanes Spillane!" I'm sure you get the idea. There's never a dull moment, and one of the interesting things about it is the basis of the plot. It's very up to date and might have come from last week's headlines. Check it out.
Update: I thought I'd bring Lee Goldberg's comment up here in case some of you don't read the comments. Here it is: Brash Books is bringing back all of the Albert crime novels and thrillers ... Except for Tony Rome. The rights to the Tony Rome novels are held by 20th Century Fox, which is developing a new TV series version. You can find out more about Brash at www.brash-books.com and we've got a Facebook page up with some of our new book covers.
Update: The covers are also on Pinterest. Click here to see them.
Thursday, April 10, 2014
Sue Townsend, R. I. P.
BBC News: Novelist Sue Townsend, best known as the author of the highly successful Adrian Mole series of books, has died, a family friend confirms to the BBC.
50 Essential Young Adult Novels
AbeBooks: 50 Essential Young Adult Novels: At the risk of stating the obvious, Young Adult fiction is hot right now. And I mean really hot. Suzanne Collins’ bestselling Hunger Games Trilogy has captured the imaginations of readers of all ages, male and female, and has been turned into a series of films that has ‘tweens and teens (and their parents) lining up for hours, just as Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight Saga before it and just as Veronica Roth’s Divergent series after.
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Who Has Buffalo Bill’s Medal?
Who Has Buffalo Bill’s Medal?: William F. Cody’s Medal of Honor is displayed in two museums...but which medal is the real one?
Uh-Oh
Hollywood Reporter: Mark and Brian Gunn, who wrote the screenplay for Journey 2: The Mysterious Island, have been tapped to write the script for Timecop, which is a remake of the 1994 Jean-Claude Van Damme time travel action movie.
Wednesday, April 09, 2014
Harold Adams, R. I. P.
Ed Gorman's blog: Harold Adams Dies: Twin Cities mystery writer Harold Adams, who died April 4 at age 91, was "kind, intelligent and very nice," according to his longtime friend Barbara Mayor. "He wasn't anything like Carl Wilcox."
Hollywood Is Out of Ideas -- And You Can Do Something About It!
NBC asks viewers for better sitcom ideas: The broadcast network announced “an unprecedented effort to discover fresh comedic voices” on Tuesday by launching a national campaign offering aspiring comedy writers from around the country the chance to pitch their sitcom ideas.
Dusty Richards: Writing the West
Scene and Sequel Key to Good Fiction | Tom Rizzo: STORYTELLER’S 7: DUSTY RICHARDS, WRITING THE WEST
Free for Kindle Today Only
Amazon.com: The Axeman of Storyville eBook: Heath Lowrance: Kindle Store: New Orleans, 1921. It’s a new world for former U.S. Marshal Gideon Miles, now retired and running one of the most popular jazz clubs in the city. But when a deranged axe murderer strikes at the prostitutes of Storyville, and the Black Hand takes up arms, Miles is drawn back into the world he knows so well--the world of evil men, buried secrets, and violent death. Just like old times.
Duets -- Linda Ronstadt
Listening to Linda Ronstadt's new CD, Duets, I can hardly believe it's been 47 years since I was driving around in my '67 Plymouth Fury III and listening to her taking the lead on the Stone Poneys' "Different Drum" on the little AM radio speaker. Sometimes that long-ago time seems like only yesterday. I've followed Ronstadt's career ever since that time. I have her albums on vinyl, cassette, 8-track, and CD. She'll be inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame soon, way later than she should've been, and she won't be able to attend because Parkinson's Disease has made travel too difficult. It's also stolen her voice, so this new CD is composed of songs from past albums (with one exception). It's too bad that no songs from Western Wall, her duet album with Emmylou Harris, are included because there are some fine ones there. There is one duet with Emmylou, though, and one with Dolly Parton. Not everything here is a winner, but it's a nice tribute to a great career that ended too soon. Have I mentioned that I miss the old days?
The Ultimate Warrior, R. I. P.
FOX Sports on MSN: The man born James Brian Hellwig, who earned a global following as professional wrestler The Ultimate Warrior, died Tuesday night, World Wrestling Entertainment announced. Hellwig was 54.
Tuesday, April 08, 2014
Beneath the Amarillo Plains (Jeff Kale, Brain Damaged Detective) -- Henry Melton
How could I resist a book with a brain-damaged detective? I couldn't, that's all. And when there are storm sewers involved, as the cover clearly indicates, you know I'm in for the ride.I've read quite a few of Henry Melton's books and reviewed them here on the blog. All of them have been science-fiction. Not this one. It's a mystery novel, as the subtitle makes clear.
Jeff Kale is fine when the story begins. He's at a party with his friends, and even if he's not with the girl he wanted to be with, he at least has a pity date. When his best friend, Hank Fisher, asks him to leave with him for mysterious reasons, Jeff agrees, and his date isn't reluctant to be left behind. It's a good thing she didn't get in the car because someone runs Hank off the road, and the resulting accident isn't one of those that has no consequences for the main character. As the title of the book lets you know, he's seriously injured. His abilities to talk and comprehend are affected, and his rehab is painful and long. He doesn't recover even by the end of the novel.
It's not that Jeff's intelligence is affected, however, and when he finds out that his best friend's girlfriend has mysteriously disappeared and that the "accident" was no accident, he decides to investigate. He's helped out by the girl he took to the party, and what they discover is nothing like you might expect, and when a man is murdered, things get even more complicated.
Since Melton's a dedicated writer of series books, I have to wonder if this foray into the mystery field is the first of more stories about Jeff Kale. The mystery is effective, the character are real and interesting, and it's all put together in entertaining prose, so I hope we'll be seeing more of Kale.
Is George Kelly Starring?
I Can't believe they're filming this in Buffalo instead of Alvin, Texas.
"Sharknado" company shooting film in Buffalo: Alligators in Buffalo?
Being fought at Lafayette Square by citizens with guns, chain saws, axes, pitchforks and shovels?
It is all happening this morning as the production company behind last summer's Syfy channel hit "Sharknado" shoots some scenes for an upcoming movie with the working title of "Alligator Apocalypse."
"Sharknado" company shooting film in Buffalo: Alligators in Buffalo?
Being fought at Lafayette Square by citizens with guns, chain saws, axes, pitchforks and shovels?
It is all happening this morning as the production company behind last summer's Syfy channel hit "Sharknado" shoots some scenes for an upcoming movie with the working title of "Alligator Apocalypse."
First It Was the Thin Mints Melee
She's lovin' it! The shocking moment a crazed topless woman DESTROYS a McDonald's before pausing to enjoy an ice cream cone: 'This woman is my new role model,' jokes one employee.
Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.
Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.
Paris Hilton Update
Paris Hilton make-up free for shopping spree at Party City in Sherman Oaks
Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.
Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.
AbeBooks: Most Expensive Sales in March 2014
AbeBooks: Most Expensive Sales in March 2014: March's list of most expensive sales on AbeBooks reveals the importance of posters to lovers of art. A five-volume set of Les Maitres de L’Affiche (Masters of the Poster) sold for more than $40,000 last month and easily topped our list.
Overlooked Movies: Dead Calm
Charles Williams, one of my favorite Gold Medal writers, occasionally published in hardcover. He also knew a thing or two about sailing, and Dead Calm is a hardback suspense novel that lets him show off that knowledge. It's a good story, and Orson Welles planned to film it. Like others of his projects, this one never got done. It would've been interesting to see his take on it, but instead we get a version by Philip Noyce. It's a dandy little movie, but it's not a lot like the book, aside from the basics of the situation.What are the basics? A man and his wife (Sam Neill and Nicole Kidman) are sailing far from the peaceful shore when they come across a boat that's sinking. There's one man (Billy Zane) aboard, and he comes over to their boat to tell them that everyone on his boat has died of food poisoning. Neill goes over to check, and Zane, being a bit of a nutter who's killed everyone else on the boat, sails away with Nicole.
After that, it's just one thing after another as Nicole tries to escape, Neill tries to keep the sinking boat he's on afloat, and Zane tries to keep Nicole from going back to rescue her husband. There's an annoying dog (HUGE SPOILER ALERT: People sensitive to animal deaths should avoid this movie. END OF HUGE SPOILER ALERT) who causes problems, too. There's a good bit of suspense, a good bit of stupidity on the parts of the characters, and (HUGE SPOILER ALERT) a villain who's not easy to kill (END OF HUGE SPOILER ALERT). Kidman, Neill, and Zane are all very good, and there's some great ocean scenery. If you haven't seen it, give it a try.
Monday, April 07, 2014
Once Again Texas Leads the Way
Woman Complains To Police About Marijuana Quality: Lufkin police Sgt. David Casper said Monday that an officer went to the home of 37-year-old Evelyn Hamilton to hear her complaint that the dealer refused to return her money after she objected that the drug was substandard.
Free for Kindle For a Limited Time
Amazon.com: A DEAD RED HEART (The Dead Red Mystery series) eBook: RP Dahlke: Kindle Store: What would you do if the love of your life lost their chance at a heart transplant because the donor organ went to a convicted felon? Grieve and let go--or wait until the convict is released and then hunt him down and make him pay?
Lalla Bains certainly doesn't need any more distractions during the simmering summers in the San Joaquin Valley of California; her tight-wad, widowed father is now a born-again lady's man, a disreputable crop-dusting competitor threatens her business, and last but not least, she worries whether the sultry redhead in the local police department is taking more than a professional interest in her honey, Sheriff Caleb Stone.
But when a homeless vet is stabbed and dies at her feet, Lalla Bains, being the exasperating, pushy, tenacious gal she is, Lalla believes the dead man deserves a better homicide investigation than what he's getting.
Peaches Geldof, R. I. P.
Mail Online: Peaches Geldof, 25, found dead today at her home in Wrotham, Kent
Kent Police called to house at 1.35pm today, said death was 'sudden' and 'unexplained'
Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.
Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.
Jeff Meyerson Will Come Close to 100%
But like he, he'll be insulted that Road House is included. (Judy is insulted that Ishtar is included.) How Many Bad Movies Have You Seen
Joe "Speedo" Frazier, R. I. P.
The Impalas - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: The Impalas were an American doo-wop group in the late 1950s, best known for their hit, "Sorry (I Ran All the Way Home)".
The group formed in 1958 in Brooklyn, New York, and was composed of lead singer Joe "Speedo" Frazier (born September 5, 1943), Richard Wagner, Lenny Renda, and Tony Carlucci. . . . Joe "Speedo" Frazier died on April 2, 2014.
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Mickey Rooney, R. I. P.
NPR: Mickey Rooney, the pint-size, precocious actor and all-around talent whose more than 90-year career spanned silent comedies, Shakespeare, Judy Garland musicals, Andy Hardy stardom, television and the Broadway theater, died Sunday at age 93.
Sunday, April 06, 2014
And Keep Off His Lawn!
Thief learns the hard way that 72-year-old man is no easy target: 'There's nobody gonna have their hand in my pocket without me reacting': Thief learns the hard way that man, 72, is no easy target after he gets beaten with his CANE
John Pinette, R. I. P.
John Pinette Dead: 'Seinfeld' Actor Dies At 50: John Pinette was found dead on April 6. The comedian was discovered in his Pittsburgh hotel room around 2:30 p.m., according to the Allegheny County medical examiner's office.
I Want to Believe!
New Yowie Footage From Australia: The footage, taken by a tree cam last February, allegedly shows what the J & J Yowie Search believe to be a “young Yowie”, also known as the Australian Bigfoot.
Peter Matthiessen, R. I. P.
The Raw Story: Globetrotting US naturalist and writer Peter Matthiessen, known for books such as “At Play in the Fields of the Lord,” has died at his New York state home, his publisher said. He was 86.
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