Ed Gorman's Blog, page 188

Prime Suspect; Grift Magazine

Helen Mirren as Jane Tennison

Ed here: I hate to say it because I'm a big Maria Bello fan but the new version of Prime Suspects looks to be judging by the trailers just one more hack cop show. Here from Criminal Element is Manda Collins discussing the original and the remake.

Manda Collins:

And there, in the middle of it all, was Helen Mirren's Jane Tennison, pressing up against the glass ceiling one cigarette burn at a time.

Along with her team of crack detectives—many of whom were so not cool with being led and outranked by a woman—Jane didn't always play by the rules. She had to remind her guys again and again to refer to her as "guv" instead of the loathed "ma'am." She was at times crude, often insubordinate, and she had a bit of a drinking problem. And let's not mention her affairs. So many affairs. But she got the job done. And she cared. (Which is why she drank.)

Over the seasons, Prime Suspect featured a veritable revolving door of classically trained British actors. Who can forget Ciaran Hinds, at his creepy best (or worst if you love him as Captain Wentworth in the 1995 version of Persuasion), as Edward Parker-Jones. Or Stephen Macintosh as The Street? Tom Wilkinson, Zoe Wanamaker, Colin Salmon, David Thewlis, Mark Strong…the list is endless. And always, always, Helen Mirren's Tennison, at the heart of the drama.

Through the years, I've watched some of my favorite British shows get the Americanization treatment. Cracker, which was unrecognizable without Robby Coltrane. Coupling, which seemed crass and overproduced, and somehow mercenary, in its American iteration. And of course, The Office, which I cannot watch. Will this new version of one of my favorite mystery shows of all time work? I don't know.

If I do end up watching, I'll do so with an effort to completely divorce this new version from the classic one. It's the only way those of us past a certain age can survive with our sensibilities (or our hearts) intact.

for all of it go here: http://www.criminalelement.com/blogs/...

------------------------GRIFT MAGAZINE



From good writer and nice guy John Kenyon:

Grift Magazine, a new print publication focused on crime fiction, will debut in February 2012.

Grift will be published in print form three times yearly — February, June and October — and will feature a mix of short crime fiction, reviews, interviews and more.

In addition, griftmagazine.com will be home to more content that will include flash fiction, review, interviews and news from the world of crime fiction.

Larry David, Entourage, Jackie-O

I was wired for the finales of both Curb Your Enthusiasm and Entourage. I thought that both had strong episodes this season. Larry David faltered a few times, especially when he went for shock. I liked especially the episode with the baseball player shunned for screwing up a play in the World Series. I would've run that as the finale and put last night's very weak episode somewhere in the middle of the order. Goofing on Michael J. Fox's Parkinson disease isn't as "shocking" as Larry obviously thinks it is especially when the writing is as lame as it was. Disappointing.

For me this was the best season of the entire Entourage run. It had actual stories with characters changing and lives being altered.. Three major plot cliff-hangers last night and every one of them ended up in standard Hwood Happy Endings. A big cop-out. And Vince getting married after knowing the woman 24 hours (well he'd been interviewed by her before I guess). We'd laugh if this was on a "woman's" series.

I watched a long segment on the Jackie-O interviews now being made public. I never bought into the Camelot bullshit and I had mixed feelings about JFK as President. I certainly would've voted for him again but he struck me as coasting on style more often than substance. Jackie-O was one of the most contrived figures in American history. That bullshit breathy voice, those arch mannerisms and her feigned intellectualism. Hoo-boy. Bad acting. So in real life she takes without question the lies fricking sociopath J. Edgar Hoover tells her about Martin Luther King--how King disparaged the Kennedys, etc. And then she blasts King not being able to figure out (gosh her vaunted intellectualism must have failed her) that Hoover despised King and enjoyed playing him off the Kennedys whom he also despised. Jackie-O was right at home on Aristotle Onassis' yacht where she belonged.

From Lee Goldberg's A Writer's Life--E Book sales

Thanks to Lee Goldberg's great blog A Writer's Life this astonishing piece of information.
http://leegoldberg.typepad.com/a_writ...

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2011

Ebook Sales Are Skyrocketing, Paperback books Are Plummeting

According to figures released today by the Association of American Publishers, so far this year ebook sales are up 167% while paperbacks have plunged 64% and hardcovers have dropped 25%. It's a safe prediction that the holiday season will create a sharp spike in ebook sales and an even steeper drop in paperback and hardcover sales. It won't be long now until the mass market paperback becomes virtually extinct.

CINEMA RETRO'S "KELLY'S HEROES" ISSUE NOW SHIPPING

Ed here: I'm very late posting this. My apologies to Cinema Retro.

Cinema Retro's Movie Classics tribute issue to Kelly's Heroes is now available for ordering directly from Ebay through our affiliated Spy Guise store. Click here to order...and while in the store, browse through the thousands of movie photos and collectibles that are also available including a special Cinema Retro back issue section.

Posted by Cinema Retro in Magazine News on Wednesday, August 17. 2011
CINEMA RETRO'S "KELLY'S HEROES" ISSUE NOW SHIPPING WORLDWIDE!

NOW SHIPPING WORLDWIDE!
THE NEW KELLY'S HEROES MOVIE CLASSICS SPECIAL EDITION HAS NOW SHIPPED WORLDWIDE. IF YOU PRE-ORDERED THIS ISSUE, IT'S ALREADY EN ROUTE TO YOU. IF YOU HAVEN'T ORDERED YET, DO SO TODAY AND ADD THIS SURE-TO-BE VALUED COLLECTOR'S ITEM TO YOUR CINEMA RETRO LIBRARY!
The acclaim from fans and those who worked on the film is pouring in. Here is an E mail we received from director John Landis, who began his career working as an assistant to director Brian G. Hutton on the movie:
Dear Dave and Lee –

The Kelly's Heroes extravaganza arrived today and it's quite overwhelming! I can't wait to read it cover to cover! It looks fantastic and extremely thorough. Congratulations! I really have never seen anything like it. Thank you, thank you, thank you!


Best always - John

As you may know, John Landis knows a thing or two about making movies, so his praise is certainly appreciated. A special thanks to John for providing ultra rare photos from his personal archive as well as original call sheets from the movie.

Following on from our 'Movie Classics Special Edition' that paid tribute to director Brian G. Hutton's Where Eagles Dare (which sold out and now commands in excess of $150 on Ebay!) we bring you his other big picture collaboration with star Clint Eastwood - Kelly's Heroes.
As before, this is an 80-page blockbuster filled with amazing stories and ultra -rare photographs, many which have never been seen before, and all for the same cover price as our regular 64-page magazine!


We have had the full cooperation of the director Brian G. Hutton, who has shared with us the trials and tribulations of making this WWII action-comedy on location in Yugoslavia. Some of the stories have to be read to be believed! Additionally, we have exclusive interviews with John Landis, actor Stuart Margolin (Little Joe), and Eastwood's regular key grip, Dennis Fraser. This issue is packed with sidebar information on the filming, the locations, the music, the actors, the world-wide poster campaigns and the collectibles. We have also unearthed rare vintage interviews with Clint Eastwood, Telly Savalas, Don Rickles and Donald Sutherland recorded on location back in 1969 which have never been published before. All of this, plus many photographs taken on the set by cast and crew that we can guarantee you have never seen before.
"Oddball" would be pleased that there will be "no negative waves" from Cinema Retro's latest Movie Classics Special Edition
THIS IS A LIMITED EDITION ISSUE AND WILL NEVER BE REPRINTED!
Order from the UK Office:
Prices include P&P:
UK: £8.50.
Europe: £9.75.
Rest of World: £11.50.
(We accept cheque or Paypal - recipient address is solopublishing@firenet.uk.com)
Mailing address:
PO Box 1570
Christchurch
Dorset
BH23 4XS
England

Order from the US Office:
Prices include P&P:
USA/Canada: $15.00
World: $20.00.
(We accept check, credit card and Paypal - recipient address is cinemaretro@hotmail.com)
Mailing address:
PO Box 152
Dunellen
NJ 08812
USA

(Note: as with our previous "Movie Classics" special editions, this issue is not part of our subscription plan and must be ordered separately).
STILL AVAILABLE: Cinema Retro Movie Classics #2: The Clint Eastwood/Sergio Leone "Dollar" film trilogy. Click here for info.

New Books: Cemetery Girl by David Bell

From David Bell and his website:
September 6, 2011
Announcing your chance to win an iPad, Kindle, or Nook

We are just four weeks from the release of Cemetery Girl on October 4th, and to thank you for your continued support of my work, I am announcing a drawing sponsored by this website.


Every week for the four weeks leading up to the book's release, I will be giving away a Nook or a Kindle to one lucky reader who pre-orders Cemetery Girl. That's right, all you have to do is pre-order Cemetery Girl from any bookstore (in person or online)*, send me an email at david@davidbellnovels.com letting me know you've done it, and you will be entered in the weekly drawing for the Nook or Kindle. If you've already pre-ordered the book, just let me know, and you will be entered as well.

On September 13th, 20th, 27th and October 4th, I will announce the weekly winner here on my website as well as on Facebook and Twitter. If you don't win during one week, fear not. I will roll those entries over to the next week. I will also be giving away a runner-up prize every week—a signed copy of Cemetery Girl.

But wait, there's more.

On October 4th at 11:00 p.m., the day of the book's release, I will announce the grand prize winner of all four weeks of entries. One lucky entrant will—wait for it!—win an iPad. Yes, I am giving away an iPad. But all you have to do to be entered is pre-order the book, send me an email letting me know you pre-ordered, and you will be entered in the drawing. The deadline to enter is 11:00 p.m. on October 4th, 2011.

Please feel free to spread the word about this drawing to any of your friends, family members, acquaintances, or frenemies who like to read.

*If you already have a Nook or Kindle, you can buy the book in ebook format from BarnesandNoble.com or Amazon.com and still be entered to win as long as you email me at david@davidbellnovels to let me know.

Movie Peeves - Shut The F**k Up!

This is from The Wrap - Kent Youngblood for the whole piece go here: http://www.thewrap.com/movies/blog-po...

I knew what bothered me but after asking for moviegoer pet peeves I was inundated with a host of other complaints -- some serious, some very funny. Seems like everyone has a tale to tell about a bad moviegoing experience. Here are 10 of the most interesting pet peeves I received:

1) Wearing enough cologne that I can track your scent. Or not taking a bath in a week and having your stink surround me. Either way my sense of smell is irreparably damaged.

2) Going with someone who has already seen the movie. They think they have to tell you what's happening. Thank you, but I'm intelligent enough to figure it out.

3) When nearly the whole theater is empty and the only other people that come to see the movie sit right next to you. It's an empty theater, spread out!!

4) Couples that need to get a room. A little PDA is fine but when you're going at it in front of me, that's something I don't want to see. Two movie tickets do not equal a cheap motel.

5) People who get to the front of the concession line and then don't know what to order. It's a movie theater! Unless you're from Mars, you know what they have.

6) People who try to make witty comments during the movie thinking they're funny. If you were any good you'd be creating what was on the screen and not in the back row of the cineplex.

7) People playing with candy wrappers all through the movie. We understand you're OCD but just throw your Twizzlers wrapper in the trash.

8) Continual sniffling, coughing and clearing your throat drives me crazy. If you're sick you shouldn't be in the theater in the first place. Go home, take some Nyquil and zone out in front of the TV.

9) People sitting behind you who decide to rest their feet on the seat next to yours or on your seat back. Touch my seat again and you're going to lose that foot.

10) People who clap after the movie. Who/what are they clapping for? Fanboys are notorious for this. Maybe it's some sort of geeky ritual, only nerds understand.

Forgotten Books: Zero Cool by Michael Crichton

At some point in his life--perhaps subconsciously--Michael Crichton set out to conquer the world. Not enough that he was becoming a doctor. He had to write pulp fiction while still in med school. And not enough that he write pulp fiction, he had to write bestsellers. And not enough that he write bestsellers, he had to put his imprint on Hollywood by creating some of the most enduring popcorn movies of all times. Poor guy.

But for all his triumphs, I still like his early work better somehow. I enjoy Westworld more than Jurassic Park (I even prefer the somwhat messy Looker to some of the Big pictures) and his John Lange pulp stuff more than any of his later books (though The Great Train Robbery, Rising Sun and Sphere still work fine for me).

So I had a great time with the Hard Case Crime reissue of the John Lange novel Zero Cool.

This time out our hero is a radiologist named Peter Ross who, who visiting Spain, manages to pick up a lot of women and a trio of nasty and mysterious men who want him to perform an autopsy on a dead man who turns out to have been a gangster.

You have to admit. This is a pretty unique set-up for a crime novel. Ross and his elegant lady are dragged across Europe looking for an invaluable artifact. Lange was already a master of pacing. Ross is never quite sure what is going on as two different factions need his help to find an invaluable object.

Lange has more fun with this one than his other early books. The dialogue is breezier, the villains are a notch or two up the vermin scale and some elements of the unending race through various countries has the feel of Hitchcock directing Cary Grant.

This is one of those little gems of pure pulp pleasure, long on plot twists and derring do, and honed to lean perfection by a major storyteller.

Eddie Murphy? Brett Ratner?

From The Guardian UK:

"Eddie is a comedic genius, one of the greatest and most influential live performers ever," said (Brett) Ratner, who recently directed Murphy in upcoming action comedy Tower Heist. "With his love of movies, history of crafting unforgettable characters and his iconic performances, especially on stage, I know he will bring excitement, spontaneity and tremendous heart to the show."

Ed here: I'm not sure why I'm paying any attention to this since I haven't been able to slog through more than forty-five minutes of an Academy Awards show in years.

The only Eddie Murphy film I've seen in a quarter century is "Bowfinger" that stupid-sweet movie he did with Steve Martin (and the lovely Heather Graham sleeping her way through LA). I was certainly a fan of his on the old Sat Night Live days. Man he was so original and funny. But his live concert put me off and not just for the much-criticised homophobia but also for the sheer self-infatuation and nastiness. Was this the real Eddie Murphy?

I once saw Brett Ratner interviewed and decided after only a few minutes that he embodied everything I hate about Hollywood. He's a piece of work--all ego, all mouth, all hack. The Academy had to dig real deep (nearly to China) to come up with him. He of course being a hack decided to promote his new (and as we know terrible) movie with Murphy by putting him center stage at the Awards,

I have a feeling I won't even make it forty-five minutes next Awards night. Unless Murphy is reborn into the comedian he was so long ago it's going to be a rough rough night.

For writers with cats--GOTTA SEE THIS; Larry Cohen

another classic Simon's Cat video - I'm sure you can relate - I know I did!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wJtbe...

----------------------------

I'm a big fan of director/writer Larry Cohen. Here's a link to Trailers from Hell. He comments on a number of movies but start out with his take on Abbott & Costello's Buck Privates. Great stuff.

http://trailersfromhell.com/trailers/440

Jerry Lewis Through The Years good stuff

Ed here: Since Jerry Lewis (and the MDA Telethon)are so much in the news today I thought I'd link to this site Mark Evanier suggested. Here's a montage that shows Jerry Lewis through merchandising, movie posters and night club appearances over the year-- from Stephen Kroninger. A lot of good memories for me especially with Eddie Mayhoff in the mix. I have fond memories of him playing off Jerry.

BTW my computer crashed. I'm trying to get my current novel off my external hard drive. I just hope it's there.



for everything go here:
http://www.drawger.com/kroninger/?art...