Continental Op makes rip-roaring leap to novels in ‘Red Harvest’ (1929)
Sleuthing Sunday (Book review): One of the earliest hardboiled detectives is not merely a prototype, but also still among the best.
Mystery
Continental Op makes rip-roaring leap to novels in ‘Red Harvest’ (1929)
Ricci tries bizarre British whimsy in ‘Miranda’ (2002)
Throwback Thursday (Movie review): With mild success, a one-and-done screenwriter blends a con drama, an orphan tragedy and romantic flailing.
2024: A horror ‘Oddity’ – Irish film is year’s best so far
Movie review: Writer-director Damian Mc Carthy masterfully crafts a character-driven supernatural whodunit at a refurbished Irish manor.
Hammett’s ‘The Glass Key’ (1931) digs into city political games
Sleuthing Sunday (Book review): Though unavoidably a complex subject, Hammett and his most unethical detective make government corruption accessible.
‘Shining Girls’ (2022): Make it make sense
Throwback Thursday (TV review): A shaky portrayal of a newspaper and even shakier time-travel logistics undercut nice design and good acting.
‘The Parallax View’ (1974) a timelessly chilling conspiracy noir
The ‘paranoia trilogy’ (Movie review): Though very Seventies in its style, Alan J. Pakula’s gem resonates as a peek into shadowy string-pulling.
‘Klute’ (1971) a grimy classic of Seventies noir
The ‘paranoia trilogy’ (Movie review): Rightly known for launching a new decade of noir style, Alan J. Pakula’s masterpiece is even more impressive as a romance.
Hayes steps into Marple role for lively ‘Caribbean Mystery’ (1983)
Sleuthing Sunday (Movie review): True, she doesn’t seem remotely British. But if you can accept the Americanization, this is a fun adaptation of Christie’s novel.
‘Evil Under the Sun’ (1982) is a sunny Poirot delight
Sleuthing Sunday (Movie review): A standout cast and gorgeous location shooting make this one of the best Poirot film adaptations.
‘Presumed Innocent’ a slick spin on the classic book/film
TV review: David E. Kelley’s melodrama and big personalities blend well with the compelling legal issues at the core of the Scott Turow potboiler.