THE BIG EMPTY by Robert Crais / Z-View

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THE BIG EMPTY: AN ELVIS COLE AND JOE PIKE NOVEL by Robert Crais

First sentence…

Sadie Given woke from a troubled sleep, the stupid phone babbling like an angry turkey, gobble-gobble, gobble-gobble.

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Traci Beller has the wholesome good looks of the girl next door.  That is, if your neighbor is in her early twenties and adorable.  Traci’s looks, personality and baking ability have captured an audience. She’s a super influencer.

Now that the money is rolling in, Traci seeks out the detective best known for his ability to find missing persons.  Elvis Cole.

Traci explains to Elvis that ten years ago, when she was just 13, her dad, Tommy Beller, went to work and didn’t came home.  There was never a call or a letter.  Nothing.  Things had been good at home.  He had no enemies. Tommy Beller just vanished.  Other private eyes had looked into Tommy’s disappearance, but all had come up empty.

Elvis explains that after ten years, odds are nothing could be found.  Traci, in tears, pleads.  Elvis reluctantly agrees to see what he can discover.

Elvis begins asking questions of the last folks to have seen Tommy Beller.  Although Tommy is remembered, nothing special sticks out.  But as word gets out who Elvis is looking for, he finds himself being followed by rough looking guys in a Challenger.

Elvis decides to turn the tables.  He trails the Challenger to a house.  Elvis is more than capable, so when two guys come at him, he’s not worried.  Then a truck pulls up and more big men get out…

Sheer numbers are the deciding factor.  Left  unconscious and badly beaten, the thugs think they’ve scared Elvis off.  They figure once he gets out of the hospital, Elvis will let the ten year old disappearance go cold again.

Instead Elvis calls Joe Pike.  Once Elvis heals, they’re going to find out what happened to Tommy Beller.

+++

I’ve been a fan of Robert Crais’ Elvis Cole tales since THE MONKEY’S RAINCOAT.  The stories always are fun and entertaining.

THE BIG EMPTY has one of the most unexpected twists in years.

Rating:

“American Manhunt: Osama bin Laden” (2025) / Z-View

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American Manhunt: Osama bin Laden (2025)

Director:  Mor Loushy, Daniel Sivan

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

American Manhunt: Osama bin Laden is a three episode documentary about the intelligence and years that went into finding Osama bin Laden.

After 9/11, the CIA determines that Osama bin Laden was the mastermind behind the attacks.  A team is put together to determine bin Laden’s location.  Despite an interview with ABC news and releasing tapes threatening more attacks, Osama bin Laden cannot be found.

Despite near misses, the hunt for Osama bin Laden continues.  Years pass and Al-Qaida continues making attacks throughout the world.

Ten years pass.  Finally a credible clue emerges.  US intelligence might know where Osama bin Laden is.  The evidence is ALL circumstantial.  President Obama orders a highly classified and dangerous mission.  Seal Team Six is sent in to bring back Osama bin Laden dead or alive.

Thoughts…

The behind the scenes information from people makes this documentary special.

I still cannot wrap my head around the mistake of letting a suicide bomber in a secure CIA compound without a search outside first.

It was interesting that not everyone was on board with President Obama’s decision to go forward with the mission without clear proof that Osama bin Laden was there.

American Manhunt: Osama bin Laden (2025) rates 5 of 5 stars

“Killers of the Flower Moon” (2023) directed by Martin Scorsese, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro and Lily Gladstone / Z-View

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Killers of the Flower Moon (2023)

Director:  Martin Scorsese

Screenplay: Eric Roth, Martin Scorsese; based on KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON: THE OSAGE MURDERS AND THE BIRTH OF THE FBI by David Grann

Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, Lily Gladstone, Jesse Plemons, Tantoo Cardinal, John Lithgow, Jason Isbell, William Belleau, Louis Cancelmi, Scott Shepherd, Tatanka Means and Brendan Fraser.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Early in the 20th century oil was found on the Oklahoma Osage Nation reservation.  Members of the Osage tribe shared in the mineral rights. This made the Osage the wealthiest people per capita in the United States. Law required court-appointed guardians to oversee the distribution of money since the Osage were seen as incompetent.

At the end of World War I, Ernest Burkhart arrived at his uncle “King” Hale’s large ranch on the reservation.  King was known as a friend of the Osage.  He was anything but.

King tells Ernest if he marries an Osage woman, and she dies, he would inherit her oil rights.  Her death would make Ernest a wealthy man.  Ernest learns that many Osage have died from mysterious illnesses, accidents and suicide.

Ernest meets and woos an Osage named Mollie.  They marry.  Shortly after, Mollie becomes sick.

As more mysterious deaths occur, the Osage council sends a representative to Washington to request help.  Soon FBI agent Tom White arrives on the reservation.  White begins his investigation as King sets in motion a plan of his own.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Killers of the Flower Moon was nominated for ten 2024 Academy Awards…

  • Best Achievement in Costume Design – Jacqueline West
  • Best Achievement in Production Design – Jack Fisk (production designer), Adam Willis (set decorator)
  • Best Achievement in Film Editing – Thelma Schoonmaker
  • Best Achievement in Cinematography – Rodrigo Prieto
  • Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures (Original Score) – Robbie Robertson
  • Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures (Original Song) – Scott George
    For “Wahzhazhe (A Song for My People)”
  • Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role – Robert De Niro
  • Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role – Lily Gladstone
  • Best Achievement in Directing – Martin Scorsese
  • Best Motion Picture of the Year – Dan Friedkin, Bradley Thomas, Martin Scorsese, Daniel Lupi

King Hale, Ernest Burkhart, Mollie and Tom White were real people.  Records implicate King Hale in the deaths of multiple murders to gain oil rights.  While the movie focuses on King/Ernest and Mollie, there were many others like King/Ernest taking advantage of the Osage.  Between 1918 and 1931 estimates of up to 150 deaths have been made.

Martin Scorsese met with Osage leadership prior to starting the film.  Scorsese cast 40 Osage actors as well as hundreds of Osage as extras.

When the script was first brought to Leonardo DiCaprio, it was written from FBI agent, Tom White’s perspective.  DiCaprio suggested that put the focus on an outsider’s perspective.  The film would be better served from another view.  The script was, as Martin Scorsese say, re-constructed.

Martin Scorsese (81) became the oldest person was 81 nominated for a Best Director Academy Award with this movie.

Killers of the Flower Moon (2023) rates 5 of 5 stars

“Revenge” (1990) directed by Tony Scott, starring Kevin Costner, Anthony Quinn and Madeleine Stowe / Z-View

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Revenge (1990)

Director:  Tony Scott

Screenplay: Jim Harrison, Jeffrey Alan Fiskin; based on Revenge by Jim Harrison

Stars: Kevin Costner, Anthony Quinn, Madeleine Stowe, Tomas Milian, Joaquín Martínez, James Gammon, Jesse Corti, Sally Kirkland, Gerardo Zepeda, Miguel Ferrer, Joe Santos and John Leguizamo.

Tagline: A passion that cannot be denied. A betrayal that cannot be forgiven.

The Plot…

Jay Cochran was a Navy jet pilot.  He recently retired early.  Now Jay’s time is his own.

Jay decides to accept an invitation to visit his wealthy friend Tiburon “Tibey” Mendez in Mexico.  Jay is warned that Mendez is a reputed crime boss.  Jay isn’t concerned.

When Jay arrives at Tibey’s estate he is met by Cesar, Tibey’s right-hand man.  Jay is admonished for being late.  Jay responds, that he’s a guest, not an employee.  This doesn’t sit well with Cesar.  Jay sees armed guards positioned throughout the estate.

Tibey is legitimately happy to see Jay.  Although Tibey is much older than Jay, their friendship is genuine.  Jay is formally introduced to Mireya, Tibey’s wife.  She’s beautiful.  And much younger than Tibey.

During Jay’s visit, his independent attitude doesn’t sit well with Cesar.  At a dinner thrown by Tibey, two of the guests try to provoke Jay.  Jay doesn’t back down and his answers could be seen as poking fun.  After dinner, Tibey has a private meeting with the two men.  They are surprised when Tibey takes Jay’s side.  The penalty for insulting Tibey’s friend is severe.

Jay and Mireya begin spending more time together.  The attraction between the two is undeniable.  As they become closer, the inevitable happens.  Shortly after, Jay says that he must go.  Mireya begs him to stay.  They decide to leave together.  Both understand that if Tibey discovers their affair, his revenge would be savage.  Tibey’s response to the slightest offense is always extreme.  To be betrayed by his wife and best friend would require an unimaginable response of violence.

Jay and Mireya plan their getaway.  They’re unaware that Tibey knows everything.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The sex scenes between Costner and Stowe were totally improvised.

Before Tony Scott was brought on to direct, John Huston was considered.  Huston didn’t want Costner to star.  Huston wanted Jack Nicholson to play Tibey.  When Huston left the project, Orson Welles was considered to helm the project.  Costner considered directing it himself.  Ultimately he served as Executive Producer and star.

Anthony Quinn and Madeline Stowe play husband and wife in Revenge.  In 2002, they re-teamed in Sly Stallone’s Avenging Angelo.  There they play father and daughter in what turned out to be Quinn’s final film.

Tony Scott said that Revenge was his favorite film that he directed.

James Gammon is memorable in a small but important role.  Same for Miguel Ferrer and John Leguizamo.

Revenge is one of my all-time favorite films.

Revenge (1990) rates 5 of 5 stars

“Dope Thief: Season 1” starring Brian Tyree Henry and Wagner Moura / Z-View

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Dope Thief: Season 1 (2025)

Created by: Peter Craig; based on DOPE THIEF by Dennis Tafoya

Director:  Ridley Scott (Ep. 1), Jonathan van Tulleken (Eps. 2, 6), Tanya Hamilton (Ep. 3); Marcela Said (Eps. 4-5, 7); Peter Craig (Ep. 8)

Teleplay by:  Peter Craig

Starring:  Brian Tyree Henry, Wagner Moura, Marin Ireland, Amir Arison, Nesta Cooper, Kate Mulgrew and Ving Rhames, .

Tagline:  No one gets away clean.

The Plot… (beware of spoilers)

Ray Driscoll and Manny Carvalho have been friends since reform school.  They’re adults now and still struggling.  Then they come up with a plan for easy money.

Ray and Manny use fake badges to pose as DEA agents.  They bust into small time drug houses with guns drawn.  Wearing DEA jackets, they flash their badges and zip-tie the dealers.  Ray and Manny then scoop up the dealer’s cash and disappear.

It’s a good gig. It works every time.

Until Ray and Manny take down the wrong drug house.  A house run by a cartel.

Now Ray and Manny are on the run.  They and everyone they love are targets to tortured and murdered.

Thoughts…

I could see Brian Tyree Henry and Wagner Moura getting nominations for their acting.  Kate Mulgrew is a hoot.  Ving Rhames is always a welcome addition.

 

“Untold: Deal with the Devil” (2021) / Z-View

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Untold: Deal with the Devil (2021)

Director:  Laura Brownson

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Christy Martin was born Christy Salters.  She excelled in sports in high school.  Christy attended college on a basketball scholarship.  She entered a “tough woman” contest on a lark.  Christy won.  After winning three consecutive “tough woman” contests, Christy was introduced to boxing trainer/coach Jim Martin.

Although reluctant at first, Martin decided to train/manage Christy.  After a 2-1-1 start, Christy went on an undefeated streak that made her the face of women’s boxing.  She was one of the first female fighters to appear on a Pay-Per-View card.  Don King became her promoter.  Christy was the on the undercard of a Mike Tyson title defense because Tyson was impressed with her fighting.

Along the way, Christy and Jim Martin became involved.  They married.  Money and fame followed.  All was good.

Until it wasn’t.

Christy had a secret that she’d suppressed.  Jim was controlling and older than her father.  Drugs came into play.  Christy was going to divorce Jim when he repeatedly stabbed and shot her.  And that isn’t the final twist to the story.

Thoughts…

I thought I knew the Christy Martin story, but that final twist is stranger than fiction.

Untold: Deal with the Devil (2021) rates 5 of 5 stars

RED EMPIRE: A JOE LEDGER AND ROGUE TEAM INTERNATIONAL NOVEL by Jonathan Maberry is Coming!

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I love Jonathan Maberry’s JOE LEDGER series.  Maberry has a new entry coming in March.  Titled RED EMPIRE: A JOE LEDGER AND ROGUE TEAM INTERNATIONAL NOVEL (Rogue Team International Series, 5).  Here’s what to expect…

In the next novel in the OE LEDGER AND ROGUE TEAM INTERNATIONAL series, the team faces new and old enemies alike as a bioengineered version of The Black Death surfaces.

Hundred of years after the first waves of the bubonic plague swept through Europe, a new, more dangerous version threatens London. Joe Ledger’s old enemy the Red Empire ― reborn as a far more powerful political and military group ― has bioengineered a weaponized version of yersinia pestis ― the bacteria responsible for The Black Death that killed tens of millions in the Middle Ages.

As Joe Ledger and Rogue Team International race against the clock to put a stop to the Red Empire’s plans, they’re sucked into the strange and mysterious past of the man called Mr. Church. Secrets come to light that make even his staunchest allies wonder who – and more precisely what ― Church really is.

With whispers of an elixir vitae ― or elixir of life―circling, Joe Ledger and Rogue Team International are facing the highest possible stakes in their work together yet. As the tension builds and the balance between life and death sways precariously, it seems like tragic losses among them might be inevitable.

Pre-orders are available now!

“Untold: Shooting Guards” (2025) / Z-View

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Untold: Shooting Guards (2025)

Director:  Walter Thompson-Hernandez

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton were players for the NBA’s Washington Wizards.  The two got into an argument on the team plane.  It escalated to the point that threats were made.

Before the next practice both players brought guns into the locker room.  Additional threats were made before made before cooler heads prevailed.  When it became known that both players had violated NBA rules, the NBA and police became involved.

Both players were suspended for the remainder of the year.  Crittenton was released and never played another game.  Arenas was traded and played a few more years.

Unfortunately for Javaris Crittenton, he got involved with the wrong crowd when he went back to his old neighborhood.  After being robbed twice, Crittenton decided to take the law into his own hands.  He tracked down who he thought had robbed him.  Crittenton then did a drive-by.  The person he killed was an innocent bystander.  A young mother who had nothing to do with the robberies.

This is the story of the events leading up to the Gilbert Arenas /Javaris Crittenton incident and Crittenton’s murder trial.  There is much more to each story… and was justice served in either case?

Thoughts…

So many professional athletes, especially those that come straight out of high school don’t have the maturity needed.  Especially when big money and guns are involved.

Untold: Shooting Guards (2025) rates 5 of 5 stars

“Untold: Malice at the Palace” (2021) / Z-View

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Untold: Malice at the Palace (2021)

Director:  Floyd Russ

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

The NBA’s Detroit Pistons and Indiana Pacers have always had a bitter rivalry.  On November 19, 2004, the two teams met in a game that was never finished.  The previous year the Pistons knocked the Pacers out of the playoffs.  This was one of the first games of the season.  Tensions were high.

The Pacers were on track to an easy win.  With less than a minute left Ron Artest of the Pacers fouled Ben Wallace of the Pistons.  Both were known for their tempers.  Wallace started to go after Artest.  The players were separated.  Artest went over to the scoring table and laid down.  Fans were going crazy and one threw a beer from the stands.  It Artest in the chest.  Artest went up into the stands after the fan he THOUGHT had thrown it.  Other fans went after Artest.  More Pacer players went to Artest’s aide.

Then all hell broke loose.

This is that story.

Thoughts…

Ron Artest was a hot-head.  Despite being the player who went into the stands, he comes off more sympathetic than you may want to believe.  It turns out that Artest suffered from depression and anxiety issues.  He was working through those problems at the time.  This isn’t to excuse him from going into the stands, but does explain his behavior.

If you were of age at the the time of the incident, even if you weren’t a basketball fan, you couldn’t avoid coverage of the incident.  This documentary does an excellent job of setting up the events leading to and the punishments handed down after.

Untold: Malice at the Palace (2021) rates 5 of 5 stars

A DANGEROUS MAN by J.L. Engel / Z-View

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A DANGEROUS MAN by J. L. Engel

First sentences…

“9-1-1. What’s your…”

The emergency operator’s standard question was cut short by the sporadic sounds of gunfire.

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

A DANGEROUS MAN features one of the most compelling openings to any book you’ll ever read.  A little girl, hidden in a closet, is one the phone with 9-1-1.  In the background gunfire is heard getting closer and closer.  The child is panicked, the operator is doing her best to determine the location of the call to send help… then the operator hears this:

“Listen closely… Anna is safe.  I’m going to give you an address where to find her and get her home.”

And this…

“When the police arrive, they’ll find Anna locked in a conference room on the second tier.  It’s up the stairs and to the left.  What they’ll find below is much more disturbing.  I advise the police to enter with extreme caution.. As best I can tell I’ve killed everyone else.  Except for the other victims.”

THAT is our introduction to a vigilante the FBI has labeled Ghost.  Ghost is a former government operative whose family was killed by a Russian crime cartel led by Yuri “The Wolf” Kurikova.  Ghost is working his way up the food chain intent on killing “The Wolf” and destroying his organization.

So far, Ghost has been unstoppable.  He’s 6’5″ and 260 pounds of muscle.  Although grieving for his family, Ghost has turned the misery into an unquenchable rage.  Using his skills, Ghost has trail of bodies across the country as he gets closer to taking down The Wolf.

The F.B.I. have been a step behind. They’ve assigned Cameron Slate to lead the investigation to bringing down the Ghost.  Slate is closing in.

The Wolf has hired twin assassins, Nikolai and Natasha to find and kill Ghost.  The twins’ abilities rival those of Ghost.  And they may have the edge given Natasha’s brutality and love of violence.

It will all come to a head in Boston.

If you like all out action, characters like John Wick, Frank Castle and John Creasey, then  A DANGEROUS MAN is for you.

Rating: