Every so often the stars align in such a way as to allow a perfectly inert and “nonproductive” weekend spent in the company of four, or five, or maybe even six movies, the sort of cine-bliss-out designed to decompress the mind and spirit after a particularly insistent week of breadwinning. Back in the salad days, when all thoughts were ostensibly devoted to expanding one’s horizons, this sort of motion picture marathon was known as a typical college weekend. But similar opportunities come far less frequently 40 years later, and when they do, they’re usually accompanied by at least four or five loads of laundry demanding to be sorted and folded. Thanks to the largely unplumbed depths of my DVR queue, I stumbled into one such marathon last Friday night, and it was a doozy, an entirely unplanned, thematically linked four-picture blast that would have been a honest-to-God B-movie treasure...
- 11/18/2018
- by Dennis Cozzalio
- Trailers from Hell
Crime writer known for Get Shorty, Out of Sight and Hombre whose work served as a barometer of modern America
When Elmore Leonard's Stick was published in Britain in 1984, one newspaper called it "a fine first novel". At almost 60, the author would have been amused at such an accolade; it was, in fact, his 21st novel, and Leonard, who has died aged 87, had been selling his fiction regularly, occasionally to Hollywood. But the genres in which he chose to work often failed to attract serious critical attention: westerns first, then crime novels set in the contemporary urban hinterlands.
Westerns as a literary genre still lack respectability, but the craft and energy of Leonard's crime novels, which include Get Shorty, Out of Sight and Labrava, eventually made them impossible to ignore. Still, recognition came late: only in 1992 did the Mystery Writers of America grant him its highest accolade, the Grand Master Edgar.
When Elmore Leonard's Stick was published in Britain in 1984, one newspaper called it "a fine first novel". At almost 60, the author would have been amused at such an accolade; it was, in fact, his 21st novel, and Leonard, who has died aged 87, had been selling his fiction regularly, occasionally to Hollywood. But the genres in which he chose to work often failed to attract serious critical attention: westerns first, then crime novels set in the contemporary urban hinterlands.
Westerns as a literary genre still lack respectability, but the craft and energy of Leonard's crime novels, which include Get Shorty, Out of Sight and Labrava, eventually made them impossible to ignore. Still, recognition came late: only in 1992 did the Mystery Writers of America grant him its highest accolade, the Grand Master Edgar.
- 8/20/2013
- by Nick Kimberley
- The Guardian - Film News
The first season of FX’s Justified was consistently entertaining, but only really found its voice when it started focusing less on crime-of-the-week plots and more on the ongoing story of bank robber Boyd Crowder (Walton Goggins) and his reprobate daddy. It wasn’t the first show to change tact this way, as TV shows increasingly discover that audiences (especially cable audiences) enjoy watching one big story unfold over multiple episodes, rather than be fed a diet of separate stories that are resolved in an hour. A healthy balance is key, and Justified achieved equilibrium in the latter-half of its inaugural year. So it’s a relief that the season 2 premiere, “The Moonshine War”, spends most of its time setting up another ne’er-do-well family for Us Marshall Raylan Givens (Timothy Olyphant) to grapple with for 13 weeks, in a confident and assured opener to what promises to be another engrossing trip to Harlan,...
- 4/21/2011
- by Dan Owen
- Obsessed with Film
Style, swagger, Stetson. Timothy Olyphant has more than his share of all three, and so does the second season of Justified. After watching the first three episodes, I can say without hesitation that the series is well on its way to a very strong sophomore season.
Olyphant returns as Deputy U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens of Harlan County, Kentucky. Although his focus is no longer entirely on his Season 1 nemesis Boyd Crowder (the masterful Walton Goggins), you will certainly discover what has happened to the two of them since Boyd’s father was killed at the end of last season. In my opinion, the very best scenes on Justified are those between Boyd and Raylan (whom I affectionately refer to as Torch and Twang). Although I am also a huge fan of any scene involving Olyphant with Natalie Zea (his ex-wife Winona) or Joelle Carter (his paramour Ava), as they...
Olyphant returns as Deputy U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens of Harlan County, Kentucky. Although his focus is no longer entirely on his Season 1 nemesis Boyd Crowder (the masterful Walton Goggins), you will certainly discover what has happened to the two of them since Boyd’s father was killed at the end of last season. In my opinion, the very best scenes on Justified are those between Boyd and Raylan (whom I affectionately refer to as Torch and Twang). Although I am also a huge fan of any scene involving Olyphant with Natalie Zea (his ex-wife Winona) or Joelle Carter (his paramour Ava), as they...
- 2/8/2011
- by Jo Garfein
- TVovermind.com
Just because U.S. Deputy Marshal Raylan Givens has solved his Crowder problems in the season 1 finale (well okay, most of his Crowder problems), not to mention putting an extra bullet in dear old dad for old time’s sake (don’t worry, the old backstabber’s still alive and kicking), it doesn’t mean his problems are over. Not by a long shot. Meet the new bad guys of “Justified” Season 2, the moonshinin’, pot-sellin’ crime family The Bennetts, led by the very motherly looking Mags Bennett and her three sons, Doyle, Coover, and Dickie. Season 2 of “Justified” kicks off February 9, 2011 on the FX Channel with the episode, “The Moonshine War”. Raylan tangles with a ruthless Harlan County crime family while hunting for a fugitive sex offender. Story by Graham Yost and Elmore Leonard, teleplay by Yost, and directed by Adam Arkin. click images to enlarge...
- 12/23/2010
- by Nix
- Beyond Hollywood
Writer/director Charles Matthau, son of actor Walter Matthau, will adapt the 1988 crime novel "Freaky Deaky" by author Elmore Leonard.
Matthau will direct from his own script with actor William H. Macy attached to star.
To be set in 1974, premise of "Freaky Deaky" follows a radical 1960's couple who became activists, then 'explosives experts' for hire.
Several of Elmore's books have been adapted to film, including "Hombre" (1967), "Get Shorty" (1995), "Rum Punch" (aka "Jackie Brown") (1997) and "Out of Sight" (1998).
Other Elmore novels turned into films include "Mr. Majestyk" (Charles Bronson), "Valdez Is Coming" (Burt Lancaster), "52 Pick-Up" (Roy Scheider), "Stick" (Burt Reynolds), "The Moonshine War" (Alan Alda), "Last Stand at Saber River" (Tom Selleck), "Gold Coast" (David Caruso), "Glitz" (Jimmy Smits), "Cat Chaser" (Peter Weller), "Touch" (Christopher Walken), "Pronto" (Peter Falk), "Be Cool" (John Travolta) and the Toronto-lensed "Killshot" (Mickey Rourke).
"Freaky Deaky" starts shooting in 2011.
Click the images to enlarge...
Matthau will direct from his own script with actor William H. Macy attached to star.
To be set in 1974, premise of "Freaky Deaky" follows a radical 1960's couple who became activists, then 'explosives experts' for hire.
Several of Elmore's books have been adapted to film, including "Hombre" (1967), "Get Shorty" (1995), "Rum Punch" (aka "Jackie Brown") (1997) and "Out of Sight" (1998).
Other Elmore novels turned into films include "Mr. Majestyk" (Charles Bronson), "Valdez Is Coming" (Burt Lancaster), "52 Pick-Up" (Roy Scheider), "Stick" (Burt Reynolds), "The Moonshine War" (Alan Alda), "Last Stand at Saber River" (Tom Selleck), "Gold Coast" (David Caruso), "Glitz" (Jimmy Smits), "Cat Chaser" (Peter Weller), "Touch" (Christopher Walken), "Pronto" (Peter Falk), "Be Cool" (John Travolta) and the Toronto-lensed "Killshot" (Mickey Rourke).
"Freaky Deaky" starts shooting in 2011.
Click the images to enlarge...
- 9/16/2010
- by Michael Stevens
- SneakPeek
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