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Film Review: A Simple Plan

January 21, 2012 — 4 Comments

A SIMPLE PLAN (1998) a film directed by Sam Raimi and stars Bill Paxton, Billy Bob Thornton and Bridget Fonda based on the novel with the same name by Scott B. Smith. The film has a freshness rating of 90% at the Rotten Tomatoes site. Somehow I missed this movie when it first appeared. I went looking for this movie when it was recommended in a list with other noir-ish films by Maili. And I read somewhere (forget where) that if you enjoyed FARGO, which I did, then this is a movie you should watch, too. Warning: there are some very slight spoilers up ahead.

The basic premise is this: two brothers and a friend come across a downed plane in a nature’s preserve and inside the cockpit of the plane, there’s a crow nibbling away on a dead body and a bag with 4 million dollars in it. Hank (Bill Paxton) wants to call the police and turn it in. Their friend, Lou, played by Brent Briscoe convinces Hank to keep the money while Hank’s brother Jacob (Billy Bob Thornton) doesn’t say any one thing for or against it for keeping the money. He just goes along with the plan and what a simple plan it was too: just sit on the money till spring and then each go their own way. Continue Reading…

In Film or TV ,
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Film Recs: Something Noir-ish

January 13, 2012 — 14 Comments

Introduction

One False Move (1991), a movie directed by Carl Franklin that stars Billy Bob Thornton (he co-wrote the screenplay), Cynda Williams and Bill Paxton, is one of my favorite movies. Have any of you seen it? This is a movie that doesn’t waste any time getting your attention for the first few minutes in. The premise: a drug deal goes bad and six people are murdered in the city of Los Angeles.

The film mostly follows the police officers as they track down the killers to a small rural town in Arkansas. Bill Paxton plays the small town sheriff there who enthusiastically welcomes the LA cops who fly down ahead to catch the dangerous trio who are making their way there. This is a major case for Dale Dixon (Bill Paxton’s character), who in his six years of being sheriff, has never had to use his gun. But Dale is star struck by the LA cops from the big bad city, often looking up to them as if they are heroes (and they are far from it). This film is well acted and directed and has a big secret towards the end. There is some humor within the story to lighten up the mood. Overall this film is one that I re-watch on a occasion and enjoy recommending to people.

I tapped Maili who offered to put together a list of other noir-like movies that would be of interest to fans like me who enjoyed One False Move. She knows everything about film (s). *g* Her list begins after the break. And please, don’t hesitate to share your thoughts or add recommendations. We would love to hear from you! Continue Reading…

In Lists
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Until Thy Wrath Be Past, By: Åsa Larsson and translated by Laurie Thompson

January 9, 2012 — 7 Comments

UNTIL THY WRATH BE PAST (2011), wastes no time pulling you into the story. This is the fourth book in the series set in Sweden to feature district attorney Rebecka Martinsson. This is the best written book in the series that started with SUN STORM (2006). This is a tightly plotted story that is well thought out and full of tension filled scenes that introduces an interesting pair of antagonists in the Krekula brothers. The premise: a young couple go winter diving in a mountain lake and then disappear. There is mention of Germany’s occupation in the country during WWII and its impact in the lives of those affected in the present day. The narrative often splits into several different perspectives, told in third person, where one is seamlessly done from the victim’s POV.

UNTIL THY WRATH BE PAST was unputdownable. This book epitomizes all that I enjoy in Scandinavian crime fiction with its interesting locale and culture. The tone can sometimes be bleak as most books in this genre tend to be about people expressing loneliness and/or despair. I like the focus on nature and its contrasts. I like the attention to the harsh climate. I like that the characters are believable and are shown to deal with their own personal issues while investigating crimes. I liked the flow of the story and how each thread or events begin to form and connect to give a complete picture. The plot is one that uses real events about German soldiers using Swedish drivers to transport supplies to the Eastern front. The author delved into the past and unearthed some interesting facts to tell her story. Continue Reading…

In Book Reviews, translated crime fiction ,
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