Category: Crime

Do I Have Your Confidence

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I finally got a chance to see “Confidence” which is directed by James Foley and stars Edward Burns, Rachael Weisz, Morris Chestnut, Luis Guzmán, DustinHoffman, Andy Garcia, and Robert Forrester.

“Confidence” is the story of some mid-level grifters who accidently rip-off a mobster. When they discover their mistake, he’s already on to them. Their only hope is to get him his money back by pulling off a major scam under the watchful eye of the police, the mobster, and a special agent hot on their trail.

Doug Jung‘s excellent script is full of twists and everything in this movie worked for me; the direction, the acting, the music, the cinematography… everything. Special mention should be given to Dustin Hoffman — he’s just perfect in his role as the mobster who was swindled and Rachael Weisz — she’s perfect for her role as well and has never looked more attractive.

You ought to check out this film. It’s really good. Trust me, I wouldn’t con you.

“Confidence” rates an A

Movies, Robbers & More

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  • “The Hulk” earned a little better than $62 million to force “Finding Nemo” into second spot. I’ll still bet on the fish in the long run.
  • “Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle” opens next Friday. I waited to rent the original, but plan to see this one on the big screen!
  • I just finished reading Robbers by Chris Cook. This is his first novel and I’d say that he’s going to become a “name” to anyone who enjoys a good crime story!
  • One of the scariest movies that I ever saw as a kid, “Invasion of the Body Snatchers,” got a little write up today. They’re out there!
  • Mike Tyson got involved in what is being described as a “street brawl.” Even though it appears that Tyson didn’t start it, he could get a year in the slammer if convicted. When is“Iron Mike” gonna learn…
  • Lennox Lewis kept the title but may have lost his desire to continue. If history tells us anything, he’ll fight again though.
  • Archaeologists in western China discovered five earthenware jars of 2,000-year-old rice wine in an ancient tomb. “Ah, do you have anything in a 0003 vintage?”
  • Anybody else been keeping up with the news about U.S. bounty hunter Duane “Dog” Chapman who was arrested by Mexican authorities while attempting to bring Andrew Luster, the fugitive heir of the Max Factor fortune and convicted rapist back to the USA? This has been my favorite news item this week… it’s like something out of a movie — which I bet it will be.

Zeck, Grant & More

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* In 1997 Mike Zeck [penciler] teamed up with writer Steven Grant, inker Denis Rodier and colorist Kurt Goldzung to create one of my all-time favorite comic mini-sereies. It was a hard-boiled crime story called DAMNED. Finally a trade paperback is scheduled to ship in August. This book is well worth the price!

* A failing British company fired 2,500 employees by sending text messages to their mobile telephones. ” U R Fired.”

A wanted man was arrested after his parole officer spotted him kissing his girlfriend in a live crowd shot displayed on the scoreboard at a Cincinnati Reds game. If convicted he could get up to 18 years in prison. He could be heading for the [grand] slammer.

Cruise, Ming and OZ

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  • NBA star Yao Ming took center stage at a telethon Sunday, which raised more than $300,000 to help researchers seeking a cure for SARS. The Houston Rockets center said this was his way of giving back to his homeland. If only more celebrities felt this way!

 

  • Was it a break-in or a break-out? Speaking of Prison… I rented season one of OZ. I’ve heard great things about the HBO series… and ya gotta love a good prison story.

So… What’s on Your Mind?

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So, what’s on your mind?

Many of you find your way here through StalloneZone, while others come in through the art gallery or from message boards at other sites. However you got here, I want to thank you for taking the time to check out what I have to say. I’d also like to hear what’s on your mind. I’ve opened up a NEW message board which should be more user friendly. Why not drop by and tell me what you’re thinking?

Here’s some stuff that I’ve been thinking about this morning:

  • There’s a sad article about Charlton Heston making his final appearance before the NRA. A lot of people bag on Heston for his stance on guns, or make jokes about his acting ability. While I don’t agree with everything he stands for and he’s not high on my list of favorite actors; I do admire his taking a stand for what he believes in. He also starred in some of my all-time favorite movies. [Who doesn’t love “Ben Hur” or the original “Planet of the Apes”?]. It was sad to read he was schuffling on stage and only said three sentences. Alzeheimer’s is a terrible, terrible disease.
  • Despite a $60,000 reward, there have been no leads into who killed Jam Master Jay [real name: Jason Mizell] of Run-DMC fame. What’s also equally surprising is that the article says that Mizell was “drowning in debt.” It’s hard for me to understand how celebrities can STILL go through all of their money… you’d think that someone in their family or friends would say, “Hey! You’ve made enough for the rest of your life if you don’t go crazy.” For most people three words should get the message across “M – C – Hammer.”
  • Shelley Morrison, who plays a wisecracking maid on television’s “Will & Grace,” has been arrested for investigation of felony shoplifting in LA. Comedian Jamie Foxx and his sister were arrested in New Orleans for allegedly refusing to leave a casino and then fighting with police officers. Two comedians get arrested — hmmm… sounds like a set-up for a sitcom.

Movies In Our Future

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It’s been a while since I’ve been to a theater to see a movie, but with the summer season approaching that’s going to change. The best trailer that I’ve seen lately has been for Underworld. I really haven’t heard much about this movie, but the preview kicks and kicks hard. It will be on my “must -see” list.

Of the other new trailers, here are a few you might want to check out: S.W.A.T. looks like a sure thing with Samuel L. Jackson, Collin Farrell and Michelle Rodriguez.  Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle looks to be as much fun as the original, so I’ll plan to see it..

Hollywood Homicide [with Harrison Ford], Pirates of the Carribean and The Hulk look to be movies I’ll pass on, at least until a rental is available.

I’m sure that we’re going to see more trailers for “Terminator 3,” “Spy Kids 3D,” and many more in the next few weeks. And you know I’ll post up my thoughts and the links here!

Back Story (A Spenser Novel) by Robert B. Parker

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Every year I go up to Indiana to visit family and friends. Once a year is all I see many of these people, but because they’re old friends, it’s always a welcome visit. We quickly catch up with where we left off and share tales of things that have happened since we last were together. It’s always fun and I end up looking forward to the next visit as the current one ends.

That’s exactly how it is each time I read a new Spencer novel by Robert B. Parker. Back Story is the latest entry in the Spencer series. [It’s the 30th book, so if you’ve never read any of them, you’re in for a lot of fun!] The Spencer books come out once a year and like my visits to Indiana are always fun.

Spencer is a wise-cracking PI who has guts, intelligence and a strict moral code. His best friend, Hawk, hovers on the edge of the criminal element and although gutsy and intelligent has no qualms with doing what needs to be done. Although Hawk and Spencer are different they are also the same. Their interactions are half the fun.

Back Story finds Spencer investigating a 28 year old murder. Soon he discovers that the FBI, and mobsters want him to drop the case. Things heat up when he doesn’t. Throw in a stone cold killer named Harvey and you have yourself a story!

If you haven’t read any of the Spencer books, you should. You might find that you like them. And then you, too, can look forward to his annual visit!

Who’s “Lucky”?

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There’s a new show premiering on Tuesday at 10PM on FX. It’s called “Lucky” and looks like it might be a winner.

Michael “Lucky” Linkletter is a professional poker gambler. He’s cool, supremely smart, but tragically flawed. He’s a compulsive gambler with a conscience. He’s been on top and also bottomed out. He wants to quit gambling but living in Vegas and with a debt to the mob…

I’ll be watching on Tuesday… and if I’m “Lucky” the show will be a winner.

Osbourne & Garner Are Free and Diesel is Apart

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I didn’t post anything up yesterday. I could use April Fool’s Day as an excuse. But I won’t. I’m not much for April Fool’s jokes… especially people and websites that post up something which seems like exciting news and then ends with APRIL FOOLS!

Sharon Osbourne is cancer-free. That’s great news. I don’t think that Ozzy could get along without her. Jennifer Garner [Alias] is also free, but this news isn’t happy. She and her husband, Scott Foley [“Below”] have separated.

Vin Diesel‘s “A Man Apart” had its world premiere in Hollywood yesterday and opens everywhere on Friday. Although it’s getting mixed reviews, I’ll probably see it before it leaves theaters. I’m not overly excited about this one. I say bring on “The Riddick Chronicles!”

See you tomorrow. No fooling.

“The Shield”

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I was ready to write a ZONE piece about Andrew Vachss, or a cool series of sketchbooks that I found on the web, but then I read this article.

If you’re a ZONE regular then you know that I’m a huge fan of The Shield. I was intrigued by the ads for the premiere and it’s ending hooked me. The writing and acting is first rate. ALL of the characters come off as real people. The Shield racked up numerous positive reviews and awards during it’s first season. The question was could they do it again?

As the second season comes to a close, I find myself enjoying The Shield more than ever. In case you haven’t checked it out, FX is going to run a Shield marathon of all of this season’s episodes.

That’s it until tomorrow, when I’ll probably tell you about Andrew Vachss or this cool series of sketchbooks.

The Art of Sin City

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FRANK MILLER is a genius. Although he’s worked in both movies and comics, it is in the latter that he has really made his mark. In the early ’80s, MILLER re-invented Daredevil taking him from a thrid rate hero to one of the most popular comics hitting the stands. After Daredevil came Ronin, and then Dark Knight Returns, the series that woke up mainstream America to the fact that comics were still around. MILLER went on to create Batman: Year One, Sin City and the groundbreaking 300.

But it is MILLER’s SIN CITY series that remains my favorite. All of the stories are set in the same corrupt big city and quite often feature overlapping characters. Every tale is well worth the price of admission and now MILLER even has released a book dedicated to The Art of Sin City. My copy hasn’t made it to the bookshelf yet, as I keep looking through and admiring the genius that is FRANK MILLER.

John Ridley’s Drift

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JOHN RIDLEY is best known for his “noir” novels. He wrote Stray Dogs which was turned into the cult classic movie “U-Turn” which starred SEAN PENN, JENNIFER LOPEZ [before she hit it big], and BILLY BOB THORTON. His other books have for the most part been in the same vein…

The Drift is unlike anything that RIDLEY has written before. Well, that’s not exactly true. You see, RIDLEY‘s other book s have all been very good and The Drift is no exception. In fact The Drift may be RIDLEY‘s best book yet.

The Drift is the story of a man[Charles Hanson] who seems to have it all… a good job, a loving wife and a child on the way. Charles sees it differently. He sees his life becoming more and more repetitive. He feels confined… until he decides to leave it all behind for a life on the rails. That’s right, he decides to become a modern day hobo. He meets many strange characters [most who wish to do him harm] and has many adventures in his effort to save a young girl from the life he has chosen for himself. The problem is, he has to find her before she is murdered. To say more would be to say too much.

Vin Diesel is a Man Apart

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VIN DIESEL‘s next film,  A Man Apart,  has Diesel playing a narcotics cop whose wife is murdered when when drug dealers attempt to kill him. Man, if they think he was after them before…

Although the advance word has been mixed, the trailer looks pretty good and with Diesel in the lead, ya gotta imagine that it’ll do well.

Personally, I can’t wait until DIESEL returns in “Pitch Black II: The Riddick Chronicles” but this will help get me through the wait.

Narc’s Buzz

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It’s been a while since there’s been a movie that I’ve really looked forward to as much as Narc. The positive buzz has been building, the trailer looks like the real deal and the web site made me want to see it even more.

“Narc” stars RAY LIOTTA, JASON PATRIC, and CHI McBRIDE. It’s written/directed by JOE CARNAHAN [who may be a guy to watch], produced by RAY LIOTTA and TOM CRUISE. I’m plan to catch Narc opening weekend.


HARDCASE by Dan Simmons / Z-View

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HARDCASE by Dan Simmons
Hardcover: 288 pages
Publisher: ‎ Minotaur Books

First sentence…

Late on Tuesday afternoon, Joe Kurtz rapped on Eddie Falco’s apartment door.

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…
Have you heard of Dan Simmons?

Simmons’ first published story, “The River Styx Runs Upstream,” won the Rod Serling Memorial Award. His first novel, SONG OF KALI, won the World Fantasy Award. His first horror novel, CARRION COMFORT, won the Bram Stoker Award. His first science fiction novel, HYPERION, won the Hugo Award.

Even with all the awards, I was only vaguely familiar with his work. I don’t read fantasy, and very little science fiction or horror. I do love a hardboiled thriller though! You know, the kind written by Andrew Vachss, or Eugene Izzi, Stephen Hunter, or Richard Stark… or now, Dan Simmons. That’s right! With Hardcase, Simmons has jumped to the top shelf!

Joe Kurtz was a PI… before he was an ex-con. See he killed a man, a couple of men actually. They’d murdered his girl and unborn child. While it’s pretty reasonable to me that he threw one of ’em off a six story building, the jury didn’t see it that way.

Now, out of prison after eleven-and-a-half years…

…you’d think things would be looking up for Kurtz. You’d be wrong. Too many people want him dead…

Hardcase is the best novel that I’ve read this year [tied with Jack Kelly‘s Line of Sight]. For more about Hardcase, click here.

Hardcase rates 5 of 5 stars.

Rating:

Updated 5/8/23