Previews and Reviews that are Z's Views
LA Noir is an original series from TNT that has a lot of potential. Frank [The Walking Dead; Shawshank Redemption; The Mist] Darabont not only serves as Executive Producer, but also wrote and directed the pilot.
Jon (The Walking Dead) Bernthal headlines as ex-marine/LA cop, Joe Teague in an era of mobsters and corrupt cops. LA Noir is based on John Buntin’s book of the same name. Coming Soon has more info about the series.
Earlier this week, Deadline.com posted that Warner Bros. had picked up the rights to Mickey Spillane’s Mike Hammer. Although it hasn’t been decided whether Hammer will be turned loose in a modern day setting or the film will be a period piece, I think that either way we’re in for a potentially fun movie.
The real question is, who to play Mike Hammer? If they’re not going with an unknown, then I’d suggest Karl Urban. I’ll be interested to see who others (especially Chris Mills) would have step into the role. Your thoughts?
Oh, and while we’re making suggestions, might I suggest that Armand Assante’s outing as Mike Hammer in I, the Jury be brought out on dvd?
That’s the latest poster for Jack Reacher starring Tom Cruise. Fans of Lee Child’s novels have been pretty vocal that Cruise is not right for the role of the 6′ 5″ tough guy. I’d have to agree. Still, I’ll judge the movie based on how it plays out rather than Cruise’s height [or lack of].
I don’t really care for this poster. This trailer isn’t much better, although I do enjoy it from the point that Cruise steps out of the moving car right before the police arrive.
I’m really surprised we’re not hearing more about Parker.
Parker is based on the classic crime novels of Richard Stark, and features a cast that includes Jason Statham, Jennifer Lopez, Michael Chiklis, and Nick Nolte. The trailer looks good and the Parker movie site has gone live.
Let’s spread the word!
The new trailer for the crime thriller Killing Them Softly is perfect. I can not wait to see this movie.
Killing Them Softly is based on a George V. Higgins crime novel and set in New Orleans, and follows professional criminal, Jackie Cogan as he investigates the robbery of a high stakes, mob-protected, poker game. It stars Brad Pitt, Ray Luotta, James Gandolfini and Sam Sheppard and opens October 7th.
I’ll save you a seat.
If you enjoy excellent crime fiction and/or great comics, then you’re probably well aware of Darwyn Cooke’s adaptations of Richard Stark’s Parker novels. So far there have been three – Parker: The Hunter; The Outfit and The Score.
Originally, the plan was for Cooke to adapt four of the Parker novels, but Cooke’s graphic adaptations have been so well received, and Cooke’s having such a blast, there will now be at least five! Next up is The Handle which Cooke says he choose because “it’s an incredibly visual book. It concerns a casino on an island.” The release date is scheduled for 2013 and I’d put my order in now if I could!
Darwyn Cooke recently spoke about his take on Parker at ComicCon and CBR.com was there.
Jake Hinkson has written an excellent essay, The Little Story of Right-Hand/Left-Hand: Davis Grubb, Charles Laughton and Night of the Hunter. Although it’s only four pages long, it features rare photos and behind-the-scenes information that make it more than worthy of a read.
Well done, Mr. Hinkson.
If you’re a Stephen King fan, then you’ll appreciate this flow chart that maps the connections between his characters and books. Congrats to Tessie Girl for working it all out.
Way back in August of 2008, I posted a very positive review of Victor Gischler’s Go-Go Girls of the Apocalypse. The fact that I really enjoyed Go-Go Girls of the Apocalypse wasn’t surprising, since I’ve enjoyed all of Victor’s novels and also highly recommend Gun Monkeys; Pistol Poets; and The Deputy.
Victor recently announced that he’s doing a sequel to Go-Go Girls of the Apocalypse which will be called, appropriately enough, Go-Go Girls of the Apocalypse II: The Luxury Wars. The cool thing is that Victor is bringing Go-Go Girls of the Apocalypse II: The Luxury Wars directly to his fans as a Kickstarter project.
I’m on board as a backer of the book and encourage you to consider becoming one as well.
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.
I first discovered Greg Rucka through his Attikus Kodiak* novels. I then continued to follow Rucka to other novels and comics. Rucka’s writing is always entertaining and worth checking out.
I’m currently reading [and enjoying] his latest novel, Alpha. You can learn a bit more about Alpha and Greg Rucka by reading this short interview with him at CBR.com.
The Atticus kodiac Novels:
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.
This is the trailer for The Hunter starring Willem Dafoe! It looks interesting, but not as cool as the poster. [And I’m still hoping for a big-screen version of The Hunter by James Byron Huggins starring Sly Stallone.]
The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed that AMC is developing a new tv series based on the critically-acclaimed movie “Goodfellas.” Nicholas Pileggi, who wrote the novel [and co-wrote the screenplay along with director Martin Scorsese] is on board as an executive producer.
If AMC’s “Goodfellas” lives up to expectations, then they’ll have another hit on their hands. I’m ready to set my DVR now!
Just a little over five years ago I posted about two great crime noir novels I’d just read. One was Drive by James Sallis. [The other was The Wheelman by Duane Swierczynski.] Drive was the story of a get-a-way driver brought in on a heist that was a set-up from the start. It went on to become a major motion picture that fans and critics loved. This coming April, James Sallis and the Driver return in the sequel, Driven.
Six years later – Phoenix. Out of nowhere someone wants Driver dead.
Who? Why? Big mistake.
I’m looking forward to the novel and would love to see the team that made the movie return for the sequel.
