Lawless Gangster Squad
Wouldn’t you love to see these as a double feature… at a drive-in theater? The only thing that would be cooler is if they were somehow connected the way that Leonard Elmore or Quentin Tarantino do with their work.
Category: Crime
Z-View: “Savages”
The Pitch: “Let’s get a name director, a first-rate cast and film an adaptation of Don Winslow’s Savages.”
The Overview: Ben (a pacifist) and Chon (ex-military) are best friends who share a thriving marijuana business and a woman named Ophelia. The relationship works as well as their multi-million dollar pot business. All is paradise until a brutal Mexican cartel (is that redundant?) decides to move in on their pot trade. When Ben and Chon refuse their offer, the cartel kidnaps Ophelia. Nothing will stop Ben and Chon from getting her back.
The Good: The novel by Don Winslow provides a solid foundation. The screenplay by Shane Salerno, Don Winslow and Olver Stone isn’t afraid to make changes to the great source material. The cast: Taylor Kitsch, Aaron Johnson, Blake Lively, and Salma Hayek are excellent in their roles. Benicio Del Toro and John Travolta are as well, and own almost every scene they’re in. Oliver Stone delivers.
The Bad: The things that happen to folks that mess with a Mexican cartel. Don’t mess with a Mexican cartel. (Sounds like a commericial for direct tv, doesn’t it?)
The Ugly: Keep an eye out for what happens when “traitors” are bull-whipped. Don’t say I didn’t warn ya.
Rating:
Don’t Ever Cross Alex Cross
Tyler Perry as Alex Cross? Yeah, that could work, although I have to admit it was a bit of surprise to see Madea taking on the role of James Patterson’s detective.
I liked the poster a lot better at first glance, but the more I look at it the more the layout bugs me. All of the white space to the left and the fact that Matthew Fox and Tyler Perry are in the same pose just makes the poster fall a bit flat. I also think that they could have come up with a better tag line than: Don’t Ever Cross Alex Cross. The trailer is interesting though.
Winslow & Stone Give Us Savages
If Oliver Stone’s adaptation of Don Winslow’s Savages is even almost as good as the novel, we’re going to get a great movie.
I think we’re going to get a great movie.
Breaking Bad: “We’re Done, When I Say We’re Done”
Breaking Bad is one of the best shows on television. This 15 second teaser sure hints at the tone of the new season. July 15th can’t get here fast enough.
Mike Zeck @ Heroes Con!
My buddy, Mike Zeck stopped going to comic conventions years ago. So it was a huge surprise when Mike announced that he will be at Heroes Con next weekend as part of their 30th anniversary celebration.
Mike will join a panel featuring the guests of the first Heroes Con, and he’ll also be set up signing autographs, selling his sketchbook as well as the crime graphic novel, Damned, that he did with Steven Grant [writer], Denis Rodier [inker] and Kurt Goldzung [colorist]. If you enjoy crime comics, I highly recommend you give Damned a look. Mike’s sketchbook is also well worth the price of admission.
If you’ve never met Mike Zeck and want to, plan to swing by and see him at Heroes next weekend. Odds are if you miss him, your next shot will be at Heroes’ 50th anniversary celebration.
It’s Good to be King
Normally one would think that it’s good to be king, but the way Walter White’s luck runs, my guess it will be: “Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown.”
If you’re not watching Breaking Bad on AMC, you’re missing out on one of the best shows currently airing.
Welcome Back, Marv & Nancy
This may be the best news of the day, perhaps the week: Mickey Rourke [Marv] and Jessica Alba [Nancy] are set to return to Sin City 2: A Dame to Kill For, The movie will begin filming in 3D later this summer for an October 4, 2013 release.
Marv & Gail: Sin CIty 2gether Again
According to this report at Spinoff Online, both Mickey Rourke and Rosario Dawson are set to return to Sin Ciity, when the sequel begins filming this summer. This is the best news I’ve heard all week.
Don Winslow’s Savages
I really enjoyed Savages by Don Winslow. Of course what crime fiction loving fan didn’t?
Naturally, I’m looking forward to the movie adaptation starring Aaron Johnson, Taylor Kitsch, Blake Lively, John Travolta, Uma Thurman, Salma Hyeck, and Benicio Del Toro. Savages opens July 6th and although the full length trailer doesn’t break until tomorrow, MTV has the teaser for the trailer here.
If you’re already on board or think Savages is something you’d really dig, then you’ll probably be interested in Don Winslow’s prequel called The Kings of Cool. It hits the streets on June 19th.
Samuel L. Jackson is The Samaritan
As cool as the retro-looking poster for The Samaritan is, I like the trailer even better. Samuel L. Jackson as a newly released ex-con under pressure from his parole officer to “not even jaywalk” and his ex-partner’s [who Jackson killed} son’s gang forcing him back into the life… yeah, I’m in.
The Iceman: Scarier Than Fiction
If the movie The Iceman is half as riveting as listening to the real Iceman, Richard Kuklinski, then we’re in for a very scary movie.
Kuklinski was the 6 foot 5 inch, three hundred pound hitman, who claimed to have killed over 100 men between 1948 and 1986. Kuklinski was finally convicted of five murders in 1988 and sentenced to consecutive life sentences. In 2003, Kuklinski pled guilty of the murder of NYPD detective Peter Calabro.
Kuklinski, once incarcerated was never one to shy away from talking about his killings. His matter of fact discussions of brutal and sadistic killings was chilling and without remorse. Kuklinski died in prison on March 5, 2006. He had been scheduled to testify that Sammy Gravano had ordered the hit on Detective Calabro. After Kuklinski died, the case against Sammy Gravano was dropped.
If you’d like to see an iceberg-sized version of The Iceman poster, you can, thanks to IMPAwards.
Vanity Fair has a Sit-Down with The Sopranos
If you were a fan of The Sopranos, and who wasn’t – fans and critics alike loved the show – (112 Emmy nominations and 21 wins in its 6 season run), then you’ll probably enjoy the excellent April 2012 Vanity Fair interview with all of the shows major players.
