Category: Crime

“Good Time” (2017) directed by Josh Safdie, Benny Safdie, starring Robert Pattison, Benny Safdie and Jennifer Jason Leigh / Z-View

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Good Time (2017)

Director: Josh Safdie, Benny Safdie

Screenplay: Ronald Bronstein, Josh Safdie

Stars: Robert Pattinson, Benny Safdie, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Barkhad Abdi and Laurence Blum.

Tagline: Are you ready for a Good Time?

The Plot…

Connie is a small time criminal who takes care of Nick, his mentally impaired and often violent younger brother.  Tired of struggling, Connie and Nick rob a bank.  During the getaway, a dye pack explodes ruining the cash and causing them to wreck the getaway car.  Now on foot, they are chased by the police.  Connie escapes.  Nick is caught.

Knowing that Nick won’t survive the night in lockup, Connie moves through New York City’s underworld, in an effort to raise enough cash to bail Nick out before his temper gets him killed.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Much of the movie was improvised.  Only Robert Pattinson and Benny Safdie were given scripts.  They other actors were given background and information about their characters.  The scenes were then improvised. The mall chase scene was done during regular hours.  The background characters were not actors and their reactions were real.

Benny Safdie is perfect as Nick.  He steals every scene.

Robert Pattison’s performance in Good Time is what brought him to Matt Reeves attention and made Reeves want him for The Batman.

Eric Roberts originally played the bail bondsman.  The scene was shot in Eric Paykert’s office.  Paykert is an actual bail bondsman.  The Safdies decided to reshoot the scene using Paykert as the bondsman.  Paykert’s real wife played his on-screen wife as well.

Josh Safdie said about the feel of the film: “We wanted to make a piece of entertainment that has a pulpy feel to it. The movie takes place in only one night. It’s a film like a dream, like a nightmare.” Mission accomplished.

Good Time (2017) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Wake Up Dead Man”: A Knives Out Mystery (2025) written & directed by Rian Johnson, starring Daniel Craig, Josh O’Connor, Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis and Jeremy Renner / Z- View

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Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (2025)

Director: Rian Johnson

Screenplay: Rian Johnson

Stars: Daniel Craig, Josh O’Connor, Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Cailee Spaeny, Daryl McCormack, Thomas Haden Church, James Faulkner, Noah Segan, Kit Burden and Jeffrey Wright.

Tagline: He works in mysterious ways.

The Plot…

Benoit Blanc is asked to help solve a murder that occurred at Our Lady of Perpetual Fortitude, a rural parish in upstate New York.  Jefferson Wicks, the controversial and charismatic Monsigner was stabbed in the back with a devil’s head knife.  Wicks was murdered in the middle of his sermon. He briefly stepped into a closet where he was killed.  Wicks had been in full view of the assembly.  No one else was in the closet and there were no other entrances or secret passageways.

Jud Duplenticy, the new assistant Priest, is the main suspect.  Jud claims his innocence and reluctantly works with Benoit to figure out who pulled off an impossible murder.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Benoit Blanc is this generation’s Columbo.  And that’s a wonderful thing.

Wake Up Dead Man is my favorite of the three Knives Out Mysteries.

Josh Brolin and Glenn Close shine.

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (2025) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“Crime 101” starring Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Barry Keoghan, and Halle Berry – The 2nd Poster & Trailer are Here!

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Crime 101 starring Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Barry Keoghan, and Halle Berry – The Second Poster and Trailer are Here!

He’s untraceable.

Watch the new trailer for #Crime101 starring Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Barry Keoghan, and Halle Berry.

See the movie only in theaters and IMAX February 13.

Set against the sun-bleached grit of Los Angeles, Crime 101 weaves the tale of an elusive jewel thief (Chris Hemsworth) whose string of heists along the 101 freeway have mystified police. When he eyes the score of a lifetime, his path crosses that of a disillusioned insurance broker (Halle Berry) who is facing her own crossroads.

Convinced he has found a pattern, a relentless detective (Mark Ruffalo) is closing in, raising the stakes even higher. As the heist approaches, the line between hunter and hunted begins to blur, and all three are faced with life-defining choices–and the realization that there can be no turning back.

Adapted from Don Winslow’s acclaimed novella of the same name, the film is written and directed by Bart Layton (American Animals, The Imposter). Monica Barbaro, Corey Hawkins, Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Nick Nolte round out the cast.

THE BURGLAR IN THE RYE: A Bernie Rhodenbarr Mystery by Lawrence Block

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THE BURGLAR IN THE RYE: A Bernie Rhodenbarr Mystery by Lawrence Block

First sentences…

The lobby was a bit worse for the wear.  The large oriental carpet had seen better days, lots of them.

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Bernie Rhodenbarr is a witty, mild-mannered book lover.  Bernie can usually be found running his used bookstore.  Where Bernie is never sledom found is at his second profession.  Bernie’s a thief.

Alice Cottrell, the former teenage lover of the world-famous, reclusive author Gulliver “Gully” Fairborn visits Bernie in his bookstore.  Gully is the author of NOBODY’S BABY, the novel that influenced a generation.  Even Bernie felt the book had a positive impact on his life, changing the way he looked at the world.  Instead of a sequel or following up NOBODY’S BABY, Gully became a traveling recluse.  He wanted no publicity and his life kept private.

Anthea Landau. Gully’s former agent, kept years of Gully’s private letters.  She plans to auction them off in a few days keeping the money for herself.  Gully wants the letters destroyed.  Anthea wants to pay Bernie to steal them before the auction.

Bernie decides t0 take possession of the letters.  Landau lives at The Padington, a once famous, but no rundown hotel.  Bernie takes a room.  Getting into Landau’s apartment late at night is a breeze.  Bernie quietly enters her bedroom and after a brief search finds the letters.  As he’s exciting, Bernie sees a huge knife sticking out of Landau’s chest.

She wasn’t sleeping.  She was dead. Recently murdered.

And now the cops are about to enter the room.

If Bernie can’t find a way out, and discover who killed Landau, he’ll  take the fall.

+++

THE BURGLAR IN THE RYE is the ninth Bernie Rhodenbarr novel.  Each story features a murder mystery full of witty dialogue, a healthy does of humor, interesting characters, multiple suspects and a conclusion where Bernie brings everyone together to explain the intricacies of the tale and expose the murderer.

Bernie Rhodenbarr tales are always fun.

Rating:

“Cross: Season 2” starring Aldis Hodge and Isaiah Mustafa – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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The Poster and Trailer for Cross: Season 2 Are Here!  Loved season one.

Deal me in.

Alex Cross is back for justice.

An all new season of Cross is out February 11 on Prime Video.

About Cross: A Washington, D.C. crime drama that follows Alex Cross, a brilliant homicide detective, whose personal struggles threaten to derail his career and life. Based on the worldwide bestselling book series by James Patterson.

“Road to Paloma” (2014) directed by and starring Jason Mamoa / Z-View

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Road to Paloma (2014)

Director: Jason Momoa

Screenplay: Jason Momoa, Robert Homer Mollohan, Jonathan Hirschbein

Stars: Jason Momoa, Robert Homer Mollohan, Lisa Bonet, Tye Alexander, Henree Alyse, Chris Browning, Charlie Brumbly, Linden Chiles, Timothy V. Murphy, Michael Raymond-James, Tanoai Reed, Steve Reevis, Wes Studi and Lance Henriksen.

Tagline: On the road. On the run.

The Plot…

Robert Wolf has been on the run.  Six months ago Wolf murdered the man who brutally raped and killed his mother.   Now Wolf has returned home to collect his mother’s ashes.  He plans to spread them on land she loved.  But when the FBI closing in, Wolf’s last wish may not be fulfilled.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Road to Paloma  features Jason Mamoa’s debut as a director. He also was the star and the film’s co-writter and co-producer.

Although Jason Mamoa and Lisa Bonet were once married, they weren’t at the time Road to Paloma was made.

Wes Studi and Lance Henriksen have small but welcome roles.

I wanted to like Road to Paloma more than I did.  I liked the story concept and actors involved.  Mamoa shows promise as a director.  My problem was the pacing of the film.  For a man on a mission as well as on the run with the FBI closing in, the film lacked a sense of urgency.  Your mileage may, of course, vary.

Road to Paloma (2014) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“STEAL” starring Sophie Turner – Two Posters and a Trailer are Here! 

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Here we have two posters and a trailer for Steal, a new series that premieres on Prime Video starting January 21st. I like what I’ve seen so far, so deal me in!

Steal is a contemporary, high-octane thriller about the heist of the century and the ordinary office worker, Zara (Sophie Turner), who finds herself at the heart of it. A typical work day at a pension fund investment company, Lochmill Capital, is upended when a gang of violent thieves burst in and force Zara and her best mate Luke (Archie Madekwe) to execute their demands.

But who would steal billions of pounds of ordinary people’s pensions and why? DCI Rhys (Jacob Fortune-Lloyd) is determined to find out, but as a recently relapsed gambling addict, Rhys must keep his own money problems at bay while dealing with the secret agendas and competing interests at the center of this far-reaching crime.

ANTIHEREO: AN OPRHAN X NOVEL by Greg Hurwitz is Coming!

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There’s a new Greg Hurwitz Orphan X novel that will drop on February 10th.  It’s the 11th in the series and it’s titled ANTIHERO.  Here’s the synopsis…

In the next book in this New York Times best-selling series, Evan Smoak takes on his most complex mission yet―one where he not only has to protect but also avenge, and find a way to balance vengeance with mercy.

Once a black ops assassin for the government known as Orphan X, Evan Smoak broke with the program and went deep underground, using his operational rules and skills to help the truly desperate with nowhere else to turn.

When Luke Devine, one of the most powerful men in the world, has a psychological crisis, Evan flies to the East Coast to help him. While there, he learns of a young woman who was kidnapped off the New York City subway, clearly in danger and in need of aid. With no name and few clues, Evan and his team track down the missing woman, who was assaulted and abandoned. Evan offers his help―and sets out finding the young men responsible. But the woman insists that Evan abandon his usual methods―no vengeance and, in particular, no killing. Which will prove no easy feat given the mounting incoming threats from all sides. In a mission that takes Evan from coast to coast, from the poorest corners of society to the richest, Orphan X must figure out a way to protect the innocent, avenge the victimized, and balance justice with a measure of mercy.

ANTIHERO: AN ORPHAN X NOVEL  Hardcover

ANTIHERO: AN ORPHAN X NOVEL  Kindle

New Trailer for “The Rip” starring Matt Damon and Ben Affleck & Directed by Joe Carnahan!

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Check out the new trailer for The Rip starring Matt Damon and Ben Affleck & Directed by Joe Carnahan.

Deal me in!

Trust has a price… Who will pay?

The Rip is only on Netflix, January 16.

Starring Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Steven Yeun, Teyana Taylor, Sasha Calle, Catalina Sandino Moreno & Kyle Chandler.

Directed by Joe Carnahan.

 

“Security” (2017) starring Antonio Banderas and Ben Kingsley / Z-View

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Security (2017)

Director: Alain DesRochers

Screenplay: Tony Mosher, John Sullivan

Stars: Antonio Banderas, Ben Kingsley, Liam McIntyre, Cung Le, Chad Lindberg, Gabriella Wright, Shari Watson.

Tagline: It’s going to be a long night.

The Plot…

Eddie Deacon, a former US Marine Captain has been out of work for too long.  When Deacon is offered a job as a security guard at a remote mall, he accepts.  There he finds a security detail lead by a cop wanna-be and a team of slackers.  The hardest part of most nights is staying awake.

That all changes late one night when a young girl shows up banging and screaming to get inside.  Deacon brings her in.  The girl is terrified and claims that people are coming to kill her.  A man shows up and says he’s there to bring the girl home.  He’s calm and has answers for every question.  But Deacon senses something is not right.

The man changes tactics.  He offers money for the girl.  When that is refused he says that he has an elite squad of mercenaries that are going to break in, kill everyone  and then take the girl.  Communications to the mall are jammed and the mercenaries are seen prepping to attack.

It’s going to be a long night.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)… 

Lillian Blankenship, in her film debut, plays Antonio Banderas’ daughter.  Later in the same year, she would again play Banderas’ daughter in the film Acts of Vengeance.

Security is a fun, action-packed ride.  Banderas is perfect as the former marine unwilling to give up the child.  Ben Kingsley plays the villain with such calm it’s creepy.  Liam McIntyre’s character has an unexpected arc that he makes work.

If you like action films, then give Security a try.

Security (2017) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Red Eye”: Season 2 – The Trailer is Here!

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The Red Eye: Season 2 trailer is here!

Deal me in!

The conspiracy deepens. The danger rises.

Red Eye returns this New Year as ITV’s hit thriller takes flight once again.

Jing Lusi is back as DS Hana Li, this time forced to team up with Martin Compston’s Clay Brody when a deadly threat traps the US Embassy in lockdown and a British government plane is targeted mid-flight. With lives on the line and trust in short supply, the race to uncover the truth takes Hana deeper into a world of political tension and hidden agendas.

Season 2 also features Lesley Sharp, Jemma Moore, Jonathan Aris, Robert Guilbert, Cash Holland and Steph Lacey, along with new cast members Isaura Barbe-Brown, Nicholas Rowe, Danusia Samal, Trevor White and Guy Williams.

Red Eye is produced by Bad Wolf and written by Peter A Dowling, with Jingan Young contributing one episode. Kieron Hawkes and Camilla Strøm Henriksen direct the six-part series.

FRONT SIGHT: THREE SWAGGER NOVELLAS by Stephen Hunter / Z-View

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FRONT SIGHT: THREE SWAGGER NOVELLAS by Stephen Hunter

City of Meat

First sentence…

Chicago 1934

The bickering got so bad, finally, that the director called both Sam Cowley and Mel Purvis to Washington to talk out the command difficulties in the productive but messed-up Chicago field office of the Justice Department’s glamorous Division of Investigation.

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

J. Edgar Hoover is basking in the attention that his Division of Investigation is getting from the capture killing of John Dillinger.  Hoover wants more of the same.  The next big-name gangster Hoover wants to bring down is Baby Face Nelson.  Who better to get the job done, than the man who killed Dillinger?

Not the federal agent who was creditied with doing the deed.  No, Hoover wanted the man who actually pulled the trigger. Charles Swagger.  Swagger was smart.  Equally important he was cool and calm when bullets flew.  And Swagger hit what he aimed at.

So when word reached Washington that Baby Face Nelson was seen around the Chicago Union Stock Yards, Charles Swagger was sent down to investigate.

Alone, in the dark, Swagger is walking the stockyard when he is attacked by a lunatic.  Forced to defend himself, Swagger kills the man.  When the stockyard police arrive, they’re ready to sweep the event under the rug.  A white police office killed a “coon” in self-defense.  Nothing to see here.

So Swagger investigates.  Turns out the man he killed was hopped up on a new drug.  So far it was only found in the  7th District of Chicago.  Although several murders could be tied to people under the influence of the drug, the people killed didn’t rate.  The local cops wrote off the murders as business as usual for the area.

Swagger feels differently.  His investigation shifts.  Swagger plans to find the source of the drug and bring them to justice.  He knows it involves powerful people somehow associated with the stockyard.  He’s getting pressure from local cops and stockyard officals to back off.  His bosses in Washington want results on Baby Face Nelson.

But Swagger won’t quit.  Even if it kills him.

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Johnny Tuesday

First sentence…

It was February 1945, and in the cities of America, small or large, town, burg, village, or hamlet, everybody smoked.

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Earl Swagger is, like his father Charles, a former soldier and lawman known for his brains, toughness and marksmanship.  Earl’s undercover investigation into a successful bank robbery that resulted in two murders is going nowhere.  His resistance from the local officials indicate the robbery is tied to something bigger than a couple of thugs looking for an easy score.

But what could it be?

Perhaps it’s the money laundering or the gambling ring or the two gangs looking to get on top? Earl knows that he’s being manipulated by a fem fatale.  But to what end?

And what could be worse than being trapped in a remote, deserted house with a cold blooded hitman?

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Five Dolls for the Gut Hook

First sentence…

Hot Springs,
Arkansas,
1978

I am improving.

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Bob Lee Swagger is like his grandfather and father a decorated soldier.  Bob’s war was Viet Nam.  There he was a sniper.  One of the best.  But Bob’s not a lawman.  And since the war, he’s struggled with drinking too much and survivor’s guilt over lost men.

Bob is surprised when he’s approached by an old friend from Hot Springs, Arkansas.  A serial killer has been brutally butchering young women there.  The police are stuck.  No leads.  No progress.  And the murders keep occuring.  Five so far.

Bob is confused.  He’s a sniper, not a detective.  And that’s exactly why they want him.  He’s told, “We need somebody smart who can look at stuff from different angles and maybe see something that our best people have missed… you are the son and grandson of two of the greatest detectives this state has ever produced.”

Bob agrees to assist with the investigation.  They know the killer will strike again soon.  The clock is ticking.

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Stephen Hunter’s Swagger novels are automatic buys for me.  I love the family history.  Hunter is an excellent story teller.  FRONT SITE provides three tales and each is a banger.  FRONT SITE gets my highest recommendation.

Rating: