Category: Crime

Blacking Out by by Chip Mosher, Peter Krause, Giulia Brusco & Ed Dukeshire is Coming!

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Blacking Out by by Chip Mosher (writer), Peter Krause (pencils/inks), Giulia Brusco (colors), Ed Dukeshire (letters) is going to hit all the sweet spots for lovers of crime fiction, mysteries and graphic novels.  Here’s the goods…

Bad people doing bad things in a tale of fire and murder in Southern California.

A disgraced ex-cop, Conrad, seeks redemption by unraveling an unsolved murder during Southern California’s fire season. Conrad follows a lone clue—a discarded crucifix—to unravel the death of Karen Littleton, whose body was found amid a blaze that scorched 10,000 acres. The search leads him to clash with the victim’s father and prime suspect, Robert Littleton, as well as hostile former colleagues on the local police force. All the while, Conrad combats his consuming alcoholism and fading faculties.

Will his “questionable” methods net him a murderer, or will the grizzled detective be brought to his knees by heartbreak and addiction? Find out, in this all-new edition of Blacking Out, a scorching crime noir comic set in a small town in the dry California desert.

From the minds of comics industry veteran and writer Chip Mosher (Left On Mission) and legendary artist Peter Krause (The Power of Shazam!, Irredeemable) with colors by the amazing Giulia Brusco (Scalped, Django Unchained), and letterers from Ed Dukeshire (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Basilisk)

Blacking Out hits on October 1, 2024.

“Assassins” (1995) directed by Richard Donner, starring Sylvester Stallone, Antonio Banderas & Julianne Moore / Z-View

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Assassins (1995)

Director: Richard Donner

Screenplay: Lilly Wachowski (as Andy Wachowski) & Lana Wachowski (as Larry Wachowski) and Brian Helgeland from a story by Lilly & Lana Wachoswski

Stars: Sylvester Stallone, Antonio Banderas, Julianne Moore, Anatoli Davydov, Muse Watson, Steve Kahan, Kelly Rowan, Reed Diamond, Kai Wulff and Stephen Liska.

Tagline: In the shadows of life, In the business of death, One man found a reason to live…

The Plot…

Robert Rath (Stallone) is a hitman ready to retire.  Working as an assassin has taken a toll even though Rath has a moral code. He refuses to murder women, children and men undeserving to die.

Miguel Bain (Banderas) is an assassin who loves his job… he wants to be the best hitman in the world.  Bain considers Rath number one… for now.

As Rath prepares to take out a mark, he is shocked when Bain assassinates his target.  The two exchange gunfire until the police arrive.  Rath realizes that Bain is determined to kill him.  He also learns that Bain’s other target is a woman known as Electra (Moore).   Rath plans to save Electra and eliminate Bain.

Of course Bain has other plans…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The Wachowski’s sold their Assassins screenplay to Joel Silver at the same time he bought their screenplay for The Matrix (for one million dollars each).  Silver wanted Richard Donner to direct and offered him ten million dollars.  Donner refused unless the screenplay’s violence was toned down and Rath was made more sympathetic.  Silver brought in Brian (L.A. Confidential) Helgeland to adjust the script.

The Wachowski’s didn’t like the changes and asked for their names to be removed from the credits.  The request was denied by the Writers Guild Association.

Donner praised Stallone and Banderas for their performances: “I thought Stallone did one of the best jobs he’s ever done. He totally underplayed, he was quiet, he found the character and he went with it. I thought Antonio Banderas was wonderful.”

Electra’s cat is the same feline that appeared with Stallone in The Specialist.

I am a huge fan of the opening scene when Rath is walking an assassin deep into a swamp to execute him. Their dialogue tells us all we need to know about Rath and his business.

Kudos to Banderas for his manic performance as the hitman who wants to be the best.

I’d always hoped that Richard Donner and Sly Stallone would work together.

Assassins (1995) rates 4 of 5 stars.

CLETE: A DAVE ROBICHEAUX NOVEL by James Lee Burke!

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We are less than a week away from the release of CLETE: A DAVE ROBICHEAUX NOVEL by James Lee Burke!  Here’s the synopsis…

In the latest installment in his famous Detective Dave Robicheaux series, New York Times bestselling author James Lee Burke brings Dave’s partner and friend Clete Purcel to the forefront for the first time as Clete and Dave attempt to stop ruthless smugglers of a dangerous new drug

Clete Purcel – private investigator, ex-member of the New Orleans Police Department, and war veteran with a hard shell and just a few soft spots – is Dave Robicheaux’s longtime friend and partner in detective work. But he has a troubled past. When Clete leaves his car at the local car wash, only to return to find it ransacked by a group of thugs tied to the drug trade from Mexican cartels to Louisiana, it feels personal – his grandniece died of a fentanyl overdose, and his fists curl when he thinks of the dealers who sold it.

Just as Clete starts to trail the culprits, Clara Bow, a woman with a dark past hires Clete as a detective to investigate her scheming, slippery ex-husband, and a string of brutal deaths all link back to a heavily tattooed man who seems to lurk around every corner. Clete is experiencing shockingly lifelike hallucinations and questioning Clara’s ulterior motives when he and Dave start to hear rumors of a dangerous substance with potentially catastrophic effects. The thugs who destroyed his car might have been pawns in a scheme far darker than they could’ve imagined.

Gripping, violent, yet interlaced with Clete’s humor and consistent drive to protect those he loves, Clete brings a fresh perspective to a truly iconic series. James Lee Burke proves yet again that he is the “heavyweight champ” and “great American novelist whose work, taken individually or as a whole, is unsurpassed” (Michael Connelly).

Hardcover
Kindle

“The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst” – Season 1 (2015) / Z-View

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The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst – Season 1 (2015)

Created by: Andrew Jarecki, Marc Smerling, Zac Stuart-Pontier

Director: Andrew Jarecki (Eps. 1-6)

Written By: Andrew Jarecki, Marc Smerling and Zac Stuart-Pontier (Eps. 1-6)

Tagline: The confession was just the beginning.

The Plot…

Andrew Jarecki directed All Good Things, a film inspired by Robert Durst’s life.  All Good Things is the fictional tale of David Marks, a real estate tycoon suspected of killing his wife Katie, who disappeared in 1982.  Robert Durst is an heir to the Durst family fortune made in real estate.  Robert Durst’s wife, Kathie disappeared in 1982.

After seeing All Good Things, Robert Durst reached out to Andrew Jarecki and proposed a series of interviews so that Durst could tell his side of the story.  In addition to being suspected of killing his wife Kathie, Durst had also admitted to killing and dismembering Morris Black and was also suspected of killing his friend Susan Berman.  Robert Durst gave Jarecki almost unlimited access to personal family photos/videos, court transcripts and depositions.  Jarecki performed extensive research prior to the interviews and uncovered previously unseen evidence.

Durst did the interviews to give his side of the story and to clear his name.  Little did Durst know that decision would lead to his arrest for murder.  Admitting his guilt on a hot mic didn’t help his side of the story.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The Jinx was nominated for six 2015 Primetime Emmys and won two: Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series and Outstanding Picture Editing for Nonfiction Programming.

Robert Durst’s story is stranger than fiction.  A multi-millionaire who many think got away with killing his first wife goes on the run because he thinks the police are going to arrest him.  He leaves New York and travels to Galveston, Texas.  He disguises himself as a mute woman.  While in Galveston he kills and dismembers a man.  The body parts are found floating in plastic bags.  They have Durst’s fingerprints, a receipt where he paid for the bags and saws.  He is caught with the saw used to dismember the man.  Durst admits to the killing.

And his defense attorney gets him off!  I won’t spoil the way it is done.

Now Durst has gotten away with murder (potentially murders).  You’d think he’d take his multi-millions and lay low for the rest of his life.  Nope.  He becomes the main suspect in the killing of Susan Berman.  Durst’s brother hires bodyguards and takes out a restraining order — he fears he could be next.

What does Durst do?  He agrees to a series of interviews in which he inadvertently admits his guilt.  This leads to his arrest for murder.

Kudos to Andrew Jarecki, Marc Smerling and Zac Stuart-Pontier.  Their research a dedication to finding the truth made for compelling television.  The Jinx deserves every accolade it has received.  I look forward to season two.

The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst – Season 1 (2015) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“Mayor of Kingstown”: Season 1 (2022) starring Jeremy Renner / Z-View

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Mayor of Kingstown: Season 1 (2022)

Created by: Taylor Sheridan, Hugh Dillon

Director: Taylor Sheridan (Eps. 1, 3); Ben Richardson (Eps. 2, 4); Guy Ferland (Ep. 5-6); Clark Johnson (Eps. 7-8); Stephen Kay (Eps. 9-10)

Teleplay: Taylor Sheridan (Eps. 1-10) <Ep. 1 story by Taylor Sheridan, Hugh Dillon>

Stars: Jeremy Renner, Dianne Wiest, Hugh Dillon, Tobi Bamtefa, Taylor Handley, Emma Laird, Derek Webster, Pha’rez Lass, Aidan Gillen, James Jordan, Michael Beach, Nichole Galicia, Michael Reventar, George Tchortov, Scott Gibson, Jose Pablo Cantillo, Necar Zadegan, Derek Basco, Joe Parro, Connor Smith, Mandela Van Peebles, Andrew Howard, Adam Clark and Kyle Chandler.

Tagline: You can’t bury the past.

The Plot…

Kingston, Michigan is a prison town.  The McClusky brothers, Mitch (Chandler) and Mike (Renner) have become unofficial powerbrokers at getting things done.  Their connections to the prison, the cops and the gangs have helped keep the peace, solve crimes and ease tensions.

But there is always a cost.  And sometimes the cost isn’t cash.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Although Kingstown, Michigan is a fictional town, many of the prison scenes were filmed at the Kingston Penitentiary, in Kingston, Ontario.  Series co-creator, Hugh Dillon is from Kingston, Ontario.

Mayor of Kingstown is well written, well directed and well acted.  The production values rival those of feature films.

Taylor Sheridan wrote all episodes and directed two.  The other season one directors include…

  • Ben Richardson directed episodes of Yellowstone, 1883, 1923 and Tulsa King.
  • Guy Ferland directed episodes of Sons of Anarchy, The Walking Dead, The Strain and Yellowstone.
  • Clark Johnson directed episodes of The Shield, The Wire, The Walking Dead and Luke Cage.
  • Stephen Kay directed Get Carter and episodes of The Shield, Sons of Anarchy, Yellowstone and 1883.

Jeremy Renner is perfect as the no-nonsense Mike McClusky.  Other standouts in the acting department include Dianne Wiest, Hugh Dillon, Emma Laird and Nichole Galicia.  Tobi Bamtefa, Hamish Allan-Headley and Pha’rez Lass are new to me, but actors to watch for.  Actually, I should probably list every supporting actor/actress because they are all perfectly cast.

The surprises, twists and ever building tension make each episode must-see tv.  I look forward to season 2 and beyond.

Mayor of Kingstown: Season 1 (2022) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“Power” (2024) / Z-View

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Power (2024)

Director: Yance Ford

Screenplay: Yance Ford, Ian Olds

Tagline:  None.

The Plot…

Power explores the history of police in the United States.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

It’s crazy to think that the idea of a city police force didn’t start in the United States until 1838.

The focus of this documentary reminds me of the saying that when the only tool you have is a hammer, you begin to see everything as a nail.

“Wolfs” starring George Clooney & Brad Pitt – The Trailer is Here!

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This could be fun!

Global superstars George Clooney and Brad Pitt team up for the action comedy Wolfs. Clooney plays a professional fixer hired to cover up a high profile crime. But when a second fixer (Pitt) shows up and the two “lone wolves” are forced to work together, they find their night spiraling out of control in ways that neither one of them expected.

Written and Directed by: Jon Watts

“Take Aim at the Police Van” (1960) / Z-View

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Take Aim at the Police Van (1960)

Director: Seijun Suzuki

Screenplay: Shinichi Sekizawa story by Kazuo Shimada

Stars: Michitarô Mizushima, Misako Watanabe.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

A van transporting prisoners is ambushed.  A sniper kills two prisoners and escapes.  The guard in charge of the transport, Daijirô Tamon (Mizushima) is suspended.  Tamon decides to use his time off to track down the killer.  As he gets closer to the truth, Tamon learns human traffickers may be involved.  What chance does one man have against an criminal organization?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Take Aim at the Police Van‘s subject matter could have been ripped from today’s headlines.  Despite being filmed in 1960, the movie has a few scenes that couldn’t get a “G” rating.

Take Aim at the Police Van (1960) rates 3 of 5 stars.

MYSTIC: THE MONK ADDISON CASE FILES by Jonathan Maberry is Coming!

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I’m a big fan of Jonathan Maberry’s novels.  My favorite is his JOE LEDGER series, but everything I’ve ever read by Maberry has been worthy.

MYSTIC: THE MONK ADDISON CASE FILES is on my “must-buy” list. (How about that cover by Lynne Hansen!)

MYSTIC: THE MONK ADDISON CASE FILES drops December 3rd, 2024.  Below is the synopsis…

Gerald “Monk” Addison used to be a soldier. Sometimes he’s a bounty hunter. Mostly, he’s a killer of killers.
His body is covered with the faces of victims of serial killers, human traffickers, and other monsters. Their blood is mixed with holy water and then inked onto his skin, allowing him to relive their deaths. To feel what they felt, and to see what they saw. The faces of the killers.

And then Monk goes hunting.

He is forever haunted by the ghosts who hire him. A madman mystic. A man driven to darkness and acts of shocking violence. Monk is a good man on a dark and dangerous road in search of personal redemption. In search of red justice.

MYSTIC collects the Monk Addison case files, pitting him against the most dangerous kinds of human monsters. These are stories of a complex and driven hunter of men. They are tales of a mystic hunting the nightmare streets and back alleys.

For full details click here.