Feb 27, 2008

Criminal vol 2 #1

Criminal is one of those rare books that really embraces crime fiction. There are some other very notable ones as well, but since the latest run of Criminal: Vol. 2 #1 just came out today that's what I'm going to talk about.

First, the art. Back in the eighties I did some things that were illegal. Nothing really big time, or even worth mentioning other than the fact that they were usually preceded by the ingestion of something illegal. But to the point, my memories of the eighties are that they were
happy and slightly edgy. In truth what I remember is a bit hazy, like a crowded smoky bar. I can see across the room, but not every detail is clear at first glance.
That's kind of what the art in Criminal is for me, a look through a smoky bar, dark and a bit grainy. It makes me pause and look closer.
And when I look closer what it does is evoke a feeling, a feeling of maybe a bit of danger, of something just under the surface ready to explode in anger. AND what this wonderful art also does is fit perfectly with the words.

The words in this book are a wonder to behold. I think part of this is because it feels like easedropping on a conversation or like we're part of a surveillance team with all access. Brubaker writes dialoge like someone who was at the event and remembers what was said. Every
character and every emotion is genuine. There really isn't a whole wasted words here, enough to get the point across and get your imagination running. And isn't that what any good book should do?

This fisrt issue lets us in on the life of one Jake Brown, son of a mob enforcer who worked for a powerful family. As he gorws older he goes his own way while his childhood friend, son of the boss heads into the family business. The worlds they live in now circle each other but don't really mix
well. By the end of th issue things have happened that can't be undone.

Criminal is an amazing book. A depth of character that should tak enore words but doesn't need them because of the terrific art work. The story is ageless and it is dark and sad and energetic and perfect. Brubaker and Phillips could very well have been born a generation or two later
than they should have been, because what they are doing here reveals that they both have old souls, souls with a past.

If you are new to Criminal pick up the two trades that are out already, Criminal: Lawless and Criminal: Coward An what ever you do, buy this book!

Added bonus, and article aby Duane Swierczynski on the David Goodis book Burglar

Feb 24, 2008

Movie Night at Crimespree

Ruth and I haven't had a movie weekend in quite a while. We've been a bit too busy. With a little windlow this weekend we sat down and powerhoused movies this weekend. Tomorrow we pack up crimespree 23 to go out to the masses.

Here's what we thought:

Eastern Promises
hmmmm. I loved the acting. I like the dierecting. I thought the story left a ittle un resolved. Viggo Mortenson is wonderful. He really dug into this role and I think this just adds another bit of depth to his body of work. David Cronenberg did a great job directing, though I could have lived with out seeing the finger cut off. I guess it's a hold over form his earlier movies to show and not imply. Naomi Watts was also very good. Worht seeing, but I'd rent not buy.

The Brave One
ok, let me get this out of the way. It's Death Wish with Jodie Foster.
With out spoiling anything I think even the ending kind of used Death Wish as a guide.

That said, its an enjoyable film. Terrance Howard is once again brilliant and in this role he needs to underplay and he does it very convincingly. Foster is of course wonderful. But again. like Eastern Promises the story was lacking a bit. Nothing new being said here, just different people telling the story. My mind wandered a bit but it was worth seeing.
Again, rent, don't buy.

Hunting Party
Richard Gere and Terrance Howard aretwo reporters of three in this movie based on an article originally in Esquire. Reporters in Bosnia try to find a war criminal. Adventure ensues.
However this is really making some great political statements and also haas some wonderful acting. I think it must be true because the movie seemed to be buried before it got out. This is a must see. I want to see it again and will most likely buy it.

Rescue Dawn

A based on true story movie about a Viet Nam prisoner of war.
Christian Bale is great, but the movie is damn long. I loved the ending, and Viet Nam is actually beautiful on film, but the movie really drags. If they had cut an hour out of the middle it would have been great. Wait for cable.

American Gangster
Ok, this one we're buying. Russell Crowe and Denzel Washington together for the first time since Virtuosity and both dynamite. Crowe is a cop studyinh law and on the outs with the department basically for being honest. Denael is a life long hood who moves in to a leadership position and becomes one of the most successful drug dealers ever.
Based on true events and done with input from both major players. Powerful acting in a really engaging and engrossing story.
But this

Michael Clayton

George Clooney is sooooooo good in this. Of course I like him in everything. Howver here he shows more depth than the Ocean's movies and he really does a great job.
Coropate lwyer trouble shooter/fixer Clayton finds himself inthe middle fo a real stink bomb and is scrambling to stay ahead of the storm coming at him. A real nasty look at corporate America and ultimatly a very satisfying ending.
Buy this one too.

Gone Baby Gone

I think Ben Afflack should be given the rest of the Partick and Angie books and should be given a bunch of money.
The love of Lehane's book shows in every frame of this movie. Also is the love of Bston and it's people. They stayed pretty faithful to the book and the ending was in no way typical hollywood.
Perfoamnces by Casey Affleck and Ed Harris really stood out. Michell Monaghan was good but not quite tough enough for the way I see Angie, but she did a really nice job. Amy Ryan deserves awards, many many awards.
Buy this one as well.

3:10 to Yuma
A hell of a great western with Christian Bale and Russell Crowe both doing great work.This belongs on the shelf with Wild Bunch and Sliverado and Once Upon A Time In The West.
Common civil war vet rancher gets caught up with taking an outlaw to the trrain for a ride to prison. Outlaw gang sets out to stop them. Soundslike a simple enough story but it's anything but.
Worth owning.

All in all a nice movie weekend.

Feb 22, 2008

Crimespree Magazine issue 23 - Shipping Monday

In this next issue:
From The Editor by Ruth Jordan
Newsbits – happenings around the mystery world
Lori Avocado in Alaska
Small Publisher Spotlight: Busted Flush
Fiction: THE BEWITCHED by by James Patrick Hunt

Cover story: Crimedogs
Anthony Neil Smith, Victor Gicshler and Sean Doolittle

Crimespree on the Road: Love is Murder
Sex Drugs rock and roll...and a comic Thriller by Raymond Benson
The Parisian Jungle; French Crime fiction Jean-Marc Lofficier
Interview with Ben Leroy
Eye On Hollywood Jeremy Lynch.
DVD Reviews
Fiction: THE MEDIUM AND THE MAN by Tony Perona
Michael Stanley Intervied By Pat and Gary from Once Upon a Crime
Reed Farrel Coleman:Back to the Future by Gary Shultze
B. Clayton Moore interviewed by Jon Jordan
Reed Farrel Coleman
Spencer Fleming for Hire
Patry Francis Interviewed
Midwest Literary Festival by Ron Edison
Julie Hyzy interviewed by James Dasner
Jewish Boys do Ride Motorcycles by Ken Issacson
Crime and Idiocy #3
Authors and DVDs
The Buzz Box
Book Reviews
Comics Spotlight
Cooking With Crimespree, the Sean Chercover edition


If you need to subscribe just go here:
Subscribe to Crimespree

Feb 15, 2008

hmmmmmm

It seems lately that more and more I am talking about the mystery genre to people. People who are not swimming in it the way Ruth and I are or the way our friends are.

It set my mnd going in a couple directions.
I often get asked to name favorites. Favorite books, favorite authors even favorite sub genres. I occurs to me that it's like my taste in music. While I like jazz, country and classical, even some opera what I listen to most is rock and roll or some variation of it. So while you can break it down to heavy metal or new wave or pop or hip hop or punk or what have you, it's all rock and roll. And for me so is the mystery genre. Thrillers are kind of like speed metal, traditional mysteries kind of like the Beatles, and I'm sure there are other comparisons to be made. I'm eclectic in what I like, in truth there isn't a lot I can say that I don't like. I do have favorites, but its a rotation. The pile near my stero has Flock of Seagulls, Mettallica, Joe Jackson, Abba, George Harrison, Drive by Truckers and Yes. Tommorrows pile will be different. So to will my reading trends.

I go on PI kicks, engulfing Pronzini and Esteleman and Randisi. Marcia Muller and Laura Lippman.
And then I need to change it up and I switch gears to Denise Swanson and Joanna Campbell Slan (who's next book, Paper Scissors Death is great)

Suddenly I'll need a different accent and I read McDermid and Kernick and Denise Mina and Stuart McBride.

Jim Butcher and Simon Green take me to a whole other place along side Kat Richardson and Charlaine Harris.

Authors like Sean Chercover and Blake Crouch and John Connolly not only entertain but make me think about myself facing adversity.

Reed Coleman makes me cry and cheer. So does Ken Bruen.

Brian Azzarello makes me hold my breath.

Greg Rucka and Lee Child make sme feel strong and safe.

And Brian Wiprud makes me laugh. (thanks Brian)

AM I leaving anyone out? Of course I am. like my music collection my library here at Casa Jordan has hundereds of artists to choose from. But these artists use words instead of paint or sounds from instruments.

So what is it about the mystery genre that appeals?

I don't have a definitive answer, I don't think there is one. That won't stop me from going on with this though...

Most crime fiction has lead characters that do one of two things. They make you want to root for them to succed, or they captivate you in such a way you can not stop following where they go. Character is everything. The protaganist can be over the top or ever so sublime. But they have to get your attention, and then keep it. You need to care what's going to happen to them.

Theres also the aspect of justice. In everyday life we don't always get it. Often we see things that are just wrong. Usually (not always) by the end of a book we are given some form of justice, either within the legal system or out of it. I think its satisying in the way comfort foods are satisfying. Work sucked today, but when I got home and started reading Jack Reacher made a piece of the world ok again.

I think the thing that mystery has over "literature" is a form of sorts, I've read enough books that seem to wander without really going anywhere. They may say some interesting things, but really, at the end I feel like I'm in the sam eplace as when I started. Not with mysteries. By the end I've gotten down and dirty and come back again, or I've solved a puzzle or I've seen determination pay off, but there is always a payoff. The journey I sarted with the protaganist went some where.


I was also thinking about how starting a new series or a new book is a little like dating. We have the speed dating at the book store where in a very short time in the space of a book jacket and cover I'm going to decide if we see each other again. A lot of books don't get that call. But theres always at least one who I want to spend the night with. Listening to the secrets to be shared. ANd in a lot of cases I think about our time together fondly later. And if I'm licky I see them again a year later with a new jacket and we go out again. More often than not they have all sorts of new thing to say to me, and I listen, savoring the words.
The wonderful thing about this kind of dating is that monogomy is not a factor.

It's late, I'm rambling.

Go read!

Feb 8, 2008

My Sister and bad words

January Magazine on Expletive Deleted All my life I heard people tell my sister to watch her language. I'm glad she ignored them.


Jennifer is on the right, Dianne on the left

Feb 5, 2008

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