Robert Crais - The Two Minute Rule

In case you haven't heard the new Robert Crais book, THE TWO MINUTE RULE is amazing.
Mr. Crais is on tour with it and was in Milwaukee tonight. After an interview with the main man Ruth and I went to Two, not one, two signings. Great fun with a great guy.

He signed at Mystery One Books and another locally owned chain. Wonderful stories about researching bank robbing.

DVD Review - Miss Marple Collection

Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple collection.
Warner Home Video
Released: March 14^th, 2006
BUY THIS DVD SET

In the early 60s, Academy Award-winning Dame Margaret Rutherford starred as Miss Marple in four George Pollack directed films. For the first time, they are now available on DVD.

These films are fun, but not for die-hard Christie purists. Rutherford is a joy as a frumpy, crotchety busybody, but is nothing like the Marple that Christie described. Of the four films, two of them are based on Hercule Poirot tales and one of the others is not based on anything that Dame Agatha wrote.

Agatha Christie’s Murder She Said(1962)

Murder She Said was based on Christie's novel "4.50 from Paddington," While traveling on a train, Miss Marple peers out the window and sees a murder on a passing train. Since the police don’t believe her, Jane Marple starts her own investigation and becomes a maid at a manor near which the murder occurred,

Murder at the Gallop(1963)

Is based on After the Funeral, a Poirot mystery. While raising funds for a charity, Miss Marple calls upon Mr. Enderby only to find him dead. Enderby’s relatives are staying at the Gallop Hotel and it is there that Miss Marple quietly pokes about while the police officially looked into the death.

Murder Ahoy(1964)

Is an original tale with no connection to Christie. Perhaps it is not a coincidence that it is also considered the weakest of the bunch. Miss Marple boards a boat to investigate the murder of a fellow trustee of a fund that helps rehabilitate young juvenile delinquents.

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Murder Most Foul(1964)

Based on Mrs. McGinty’s dead, another Poitot story. Miss Marple is the only member of a jury who believes in the innocence of a man accused of murder. As always, she sets out to find the real murdered, this time by joining an acting troupe.

As I said, die-hard Christie fans may have issues with the liberties taken with the source material, but Dame Rutherford is a joy to watch as she really makes the role her own. People looking for some fun mysteries should check these out. Three of the four are fantastic and the remaining one is still entertaining. I will take these over Murder She Wrote any day of the week.
BUY THIS DVD SET

Weekend DVD Update

Let me just start by saying how thrilled I am to be appearing on this fine blog. I am honored and will do my best to live up to the fine legacy that Mr. Jon has established.

Wow, does that ever sound kissass!
I am excited to announce that We at Crime Spree magazine will, from here forward, be bringing you news, previews, reviews and other assorted opinions on forthcoming films and DVDs. Each Friday, we will take a look at the films that open that day, as well as the DVDs coming out the following Tuesday. Look back later this weekend for reviews on some of the titles that are coming out next Tuesday. Now because we do have lives(Ok, that might be stretching it.) we won't be
reviewing every DVD, but will do our best to provide some information so as to assist you in deciding what titles you may want to acquire.

One thing is for sure, we will be giving you a heads up on every crime title that makes it to the big screen. March is an exciting month for mystery fans, as there are several promising films coming to a theater near you. Next Friday brings V is for Vendetta and we will have a complete review online that morning.

As always, your thoughts and comments are welcome.

Jeremy Lynch
Entertainment Editor and movie freak.

March 14

Agatha Christie's Miss Marple Movies Collection (2005) Four disc set with "Murder She Said" (1961), "Murder at the Gallop" (1963), "Murder Ahoy" (1964) and "Murder Most Foul" (1964), all starring Margaret Rutherford; $39.92. (Warner).

Chasing Ghosts (2005) Michael Madsen, Corey Large, Shannyn Sossamon, Meat Loaf, Gary Busey. Debuted at the 2005 Cannes Film Festival and now is unleashed on the home video market.(Sony).

Columbo: The Complete Fourth Season $39.98 Extras: Bonus episode from spin-off "Mrs. Columbo." (Universal).

Crimson Tide Unrated Extended Edition (1995) Denzel Washington, Gene Hackman, George Dzundza, Viggo Mortensen, James Gandolfini, Matt Craven. Additional footage added back into the movie. Extras:Deleted scenes, behind-the-scenes featurette. (Buena Vista).

The Cutter (2005) Chuck Norris, Joanna Pacula, Daniel Bernhardt, Bernie Kopell. Norris stars as a dectective who aids an elderly jeweler. Direct to DVD. (Sony).

Gang in Blue (1996) Dir.: Mario Van Peebles; Mario Van Peebles, Josh Brolin, Cynda Williams, J.T. Walsh, Melvin Van Peebles. (Echo Bridge Home Entertainment).

Good Night, and Good Luck. (2005) Dir. George Clooney; David Strathairn, Robert Downey Jr., Patricia Clarkson, Ray Wise, Frank Langella, Jeff Daniels, George Clooney, Tate Donovan. Extras: Commentary by Clooney and co-writer Grant Heslov, "Good Night, and Good Luck." Companion piece. (Warner).

A History of Violence (2005) Dir.: David Cronenberg; Viggo Mortensen, Maria Bello, Ed Harris, William Hurt, Ashton Holmes, Peter MacNeill. Extras: Commentary by Cronenberg, deleted scenes, "Acts of Violence" documentary, "Violence's History: United States Version vs International Version" featurette, "The Unmaking of Scene 44" featurette, "Too Commercial for Cannes" featurette. (New Line).

John le Carre's A Perfect Spy (1987) Three-disc set of the BBC thriller, $59.99. (Acorn Media).

Macgyver: The Complete Fifth Season (1989-90) $36.99. (Paramount).

Murder, She Wrote: The Complete Third Season (1986-87) Angela Lansbury. $49.98. Extra: Includes Magnum P.I. episode Novel Connection. (Universal).

Riot (1997) Dante Basco, Mario Van Peebles, Luke Perry, Melvin Van Peebles, Cicely Tyson. Originally aired on Showtime, Riot tells 4 interlocking stories from the riots that arose from the Rodney King verdict. (Echo Bridge Home Entertainment).

Sleeper Cell (2005) Three-disc set of the Showtime miniseries, $34.99. Extras: Commentaries, "Making of the Series Finale" featurette, behind-the-scenes footage. (Showtime).

Ten Little Indians (1965) Hugh O'Brian, Shirley Eaton, Fabian, Leo Genn, Stanley Holloway, Wilfrid Hyde-White, Daliah Lavi, Dennis Price. (Warner).

The Titanic (1996 -- TV) Peter Gallagher, George C. Scott, Catherine Zeta-Jones. (Echo Bridge Home Entertainment).

Triplecross (1995 -- TV) Michael Pare, Billy Dee Williams, Patrick Bergin. A Hallmark original picture. (Echo Bridge Home Entertainment).

VIP: The Complete First Season. Pamela Anderson. Five-disc set with 22 episodes, $49.95.Extras: Commentary,behind-the-scenes featurette, introductions. (Sony).
Here's a review to go with the releases coming this next week from one of our esteemed DVD reviewers:

Ten Little Indians (1965) DVD
Warner Home Video
Release date: March 14, 2006

To start out, I just want to say I know very little of Agatha Christie’s work. I knew of her and that she was suppose to be REALLY good. But books and movies about a little old lady solving crimes (Miss Marple) just were not for me. It was too “Murder She Wrotey” for me. I knew even less about “Ten Little Indians.”

Having said that: DAMN, what a movie! It was very mysterious from the beginning and kept you guessing until the end.

Ten strangers invited to a remote house on top of a cliff in the middle of winter for a get-away. People start dying almost as soon as they introduce themselves. It was made in the 60’s so there is no blood and gore you’d expect (tragically so) today, just mystery abound. (Can I say “Mystery Abound” with out getting lynched?)

Hugh O’Brien lead’s a cast of characters, most of whom are of the old British type that you’d want for a grandfather. Except of course the stunningly beautiful Shirley Eaton, who gained some fame as the woman that Auric Goldfinger killed by painting her gold from head to toe, in the James Bond thriller “Goldfinger” (1964).

When this version of “Ten Little Indians” (there have been 6 versions) was released in the theaters it had a “Who Done It Break.” Near the end at a critical moment the movie paused and an announcer comes on a asks if you know “Who done it.” The announcer asks you to “think about it for a moment and discuss it with the person next to you,” while they play some helpful clues. This is not in the DVD movie, but is added as an extra. It was very well done and added some suspense. Also included as extras were trailer’s for several Agatha Christie Miss Marple adventures starring Academy Award® winning actress Margaret Rutherford (Best Supporting Actress for The V.I.P.s (1963)), the trailers make me actually want to sit down and watch a few “movies about a little old lady solving crimes.”

Randy Otteson

WOW

I just finished Victor Gischler's SHOTGUN OPERA.
I am blown away. I read it in two sittings stopping only to thow some food in my gut. Thsi book was amazing. It doesn't have the same level as quirkiness that some of Victor's other work has but I think his writing has gone up a notch or two.

It opens with two brothers who do work for the mob in New York. Something happens to put Mike off his game and he leaves ending up in Oklahoma. His brother Danny stays in New York, has a son and opens a bar. Danny get cancer but before passing tells his son Andrew if he ever neds help to call his uncle Mike. Not borrow money trouble, but real trouble.

Well, Andrew has that in spades and ends up on the run an in Oklahoma. He's got bad people after him and his Uncle Mike looks like his only hope.

Fast paced, full of action and great characters Victor Gischler has written what is got to be one of my favorite books of the year.

Look for it in April in a mass market paperback. $6.99, buy extra copies and share with your friends, they will thank you.

Oh The Irony

In today's world a lot of information is easy to get, it right at your fingertips on the same device that brought you here. The internet will help you research and get you the background you need on almost any subject.

So why is it that people who choose to go the route of using a vanity press and paying to have their book printed can't understand why people don't want to take them serious?

A traditional publisher, regardless of promotion they do or don't do, will make the book easy to get for bookstores. This is huge. Being able to order from Baker and Taylor or Ingram is very important. As is having the discount set the same as other publishers.

I've heard people say things like " I can bring the books right to the bookstore" , "I can discount", "I'll take returns". But the truth is it doesn't matter most times. Because there is still something else missing. A reputation, a history, a track record.

The traditional publishers, big and small have a reputation. Among other things it includes not complaining when a bookstore won't carry a book.

Some other things occur because of the same problem.
"Why won't the local radio and TV shows have me on?"
"Why won't major publications review me?"
"Why doesn't the local librabry want to do a reading?"
The list goes on.

Why? Because they want someone with a name that people recognize. Even with a major house behind you getting noticed is hard. rying to do it with a book from Authorhouse any other vanity press is going to be a lot harder.


People published with the traditional publishers have payed hteir dues. Many received countless rejections before getting published. It takes work and dedication and a willingness to wait.

I'm not saying no one ahould self publish or go to a vanity press.

I AM SAYING: " Don't be shocked when you have trouble getting noticed"