Robert Donat, Madeleine Carroll and Lucie Mannheim in the Alfred Hitchcock movie ‘The 39 Steps’

The mystery, thriller movie The 39 Steps (1935) is an Alfred Hitchcock film loosely based on the 1915 novel The Thiry-Nine Steps by John Buchan. Charles Bennett and Ian Hay garner screenwriting credit for this movie taking place in England and largely in Scotland.

(From left, Robert Donat as Richard Hannay and Lucie Mannheim as Annabella Smith in the Alfred Hitchcock movie The 39 Steps).

This story of The 39 Steps is one of the wrong man, Canadian Richard Hannay as portrayed by Robert Donat, suspected of murder getting mixed up with an attractive blonde, Pamela as portrayed by Madeleine Carroll, while hoping to clear his name. The death in play is that of one Annabella Smith, as portrayed by Lucie Mannheim, who turns to Hannay for help before coming to her end after implicating him; Smith introduces to Hannay the notion of an abstract and unexplained phrase The 39 Steps.

(From left, Madeleine Carroll as Pamela and Robert Donat as Richard Hannay in the Alfred Hitchcock movie The 39 Steps).

The opening confusion with Annabella Smith begins in London at a music hall event featuring Mr. Memory; Wylie Watson portrayed Mr. Memory. It’s while Smith fleeing to Hannay’s bedroom and getting murdered that Hannay retrieves a map of the Scottish Highlands held by Smith; that map leads Hannay to a building labeled Alt-na-Shellach in the village of Killin, Scotland. Hannay first meets Pamela aboard the Flying Scotsman, learning at Waverly Station in Edinburgh, Scotland of his being suspected of murdering Smith. Hannay escapes police custody at the Forth Bridge when Pamela aims to support his capture.

(From left, Robert Donat as Richard Hannay, Peggy Ashcroft as Margaret and John Laurie as John in the Alfred Hitchcock movie The 39 Steps).

The police ultimately follow Hannay to the the croft of John and Margaret, where the couple has granted Hannay an evening of respite. Margaret, as portrayed by Peggy Ashcroft, gives Richard the coat of her husband John, as portrayed by John Laurie, to assist Hannay in making an escape. The notion of an extended police chase in cinema gains an expression multiple ways through The 39 Steps, leading for now to Alt-na-Shellach.

(Godfrey Tearle as Professor Jordan in the Alfred Hitchcock movie The 39 Steps).

It is at the home there that Hannay encounters Professor Johnson and his wife; Professor Johnson and Mrs. Louisa Johnson were portrayed by Godfrey Tearle and Helen Haye, respectively. A bullet meant for Hannay at the home of the Johnson’s misses its mark when a hymnal in the coat jacket of John, as presented to him by Margaret, saves Robert Hannay’s life. Pamela, intending to reveal Robert Hannay to police again, leads the pair on a trip with police impersonators aiming to take the pair to Inverary, Scotland.

(Wiley Watson as Mr. Memory in the Alfred Hitchcock movie The 39 Steps).

Cleverness by Hannay helps Robert and Pamela, handcuffed together, escape their captors once again. The pair make their way to the London Palladium, where the movie comes to a satisfying conclusion. The film’s ongoing chase sequences resolve provided an interesting mix of humor and directorial winking. Owing to the overall enjoyment that was experienced, I grant The 39 Steps as directed by Alfred Hitchcock 3.75-stars on a scale of 1-to-5.

Matt – Saturday, May 4, 2024

Brad Davis, Irene Miracle and Bo Hopkins in the Alan Parker movie ‘Midnight Express’

The brutal telling of life in prison far from home, the Alan Parker directed movie Midnight Express (1978) captures our attention today. Based on the 1977 book Midnight Express as written by Billy Hayes with William Hoffer, the screenplay was adapted for the movies by Oliver Stone. This movie review looks at a biopic of part of the life of Billy Hayes, with Hayes portrayed by Brad Davis.

(Brad Davis as Billy Hayes in the Alan Hopkins movie Midnight Express).

The Billy Hayes story, as presented in Midnight Express, offers the story’s protagonist attempting to board an airplane at the Istanbul, Turkey airport with his girlfriend Susan at his side and several pounds of hashish strapped to his chest. After a strip search and the supposed support of a translator nicknamed ‘Tex’ by Hayes, Billy identifies the taxi driver he bought the drugs from and is subsequently arrested by Tex at gunpoint after trying to escape. Irene Miracle and Bo Hopkins portrayed Susan and Tex, respectively.

(Bo Hopkins as ‘Tex’ in the Alan Hopkins movie Midnight Express).

The portrayal of life in a series of Turkish prisons proves brutal, cruel and difficult. Hayes suffers a severe beating by chief guard Hamidou following the ‘crime’ of stealing a blanket to keep warm in a cold prison, for example. Paul L. Smith portrayed Hamidou.

(From left, Irene Miracle as Susan and Brad Davis as Billy Hayes in the Alan Hopkins movie Midnight Express).

Hayes learns that foreign prisoners like himself tend to have a hard time in prison after finding himself transferred to a separate prison. Hayes gains some measure of friendship and advice from Jimmy Booth, Max and Erich, as portrayed by Randy Quaid, John Hurt and Norbert Weisser, while in this new prison.

(From left, Randy Quaid as Jimmy Booth, John Hurt as Max and Brad Davis as Billy Hayes in the Alan Hopkins movie Midnight Express).

A series of escalating cruelty follows for Booth, Max and Hayes that eventually brings the prisoner Rifki into the picture. Rifki, as portrayed by Paolo Bonacelli, spies on fellow prisoners for favors from the prison staff that bodes poorly for the Hayes and his friends. Billy Hayes begins losing connection with his sense of well-being when Chief Guard Hamidou reemerges to grant Billy Hayes his prisonbreak opportunity.

(Paolo Bonacelli as Rifki in the Alan Hopkins movie Midnight Express).

The effort, and dare I say audience manipulation, draws the character of Billy Hayes sympathetically, despite fighting off a man’s rape attempt with lethal force. Movies of the style and substance of Midnight Express are not likely to be filmed nowadays, at least as I see industry trends. I grant Midnight Express as directed by Alan Parker 4.25-stars on a scale of 1-to-5.

Matt – Wednesday, April 24, 2024

Tom Hanks, Audrey Tautou and Jean Reno in the Ron Howard movie ‘The Da Vinci Code’

Released as a movie in May 2006, the adaptation of the 2003 Dan Brown book The Da Vinci Code became the Ron Howard directed movie The Da Vinci Code (2006). With screenplay writing credit for Akiva Goldsman, the movie focuses on “art history, Christianity’s origins, and arcane theories,” as mentioned here.

(Jean-Pierre Marielle as Jacques Saunière in the Ron Howard movie The Da Vinci Code).

The movie begins with the pursuit if Louvre Museum curator Jacques Saunière, as portrayed by Jean-Pierre Marielle, in the world famous Paris, France art museum by Roman Catholic, albino monk named Silas; Silas was portrayed by Paul Bettany. Saunière, while coming out of the exchange dead, leaves clues amongst the artwork of Leonardo da Vinci, the namesake for the movie, the book, and the clues embedded in the art around the museum that lead the police to summon renowned Harvard University symbologist Robert Langdon to the case.

(From left, Paul Bettany as Silas and Alfred Molina as Bishop Aringarosa in the Ron Howard movie The Da Vinci Code).

Robert Langdon, as portrayed by Tom Hanks, initially is suspected of the murder of Jacques Saunière, by police captain Bezu Fache, as portrayed by Jean Reno. Police cryptologist Sophie Neveu, as portrayed by Audrey Tautou, disagrees that that Langdon should be suspected of her grandfather’s, that is Saunière’s, murder; Neveu and Langdon shake Fache’s pursuit and deduce that Saunière was a grand master of the French founded Priory of Sion.

(From left, Audrey Tautou as Sophie Neveu and Tom Hanks as Robert Langdon near the Louvre Museum in the Ron Howard movie The Da Vinci Code).

Silas, meanwhile, works for an anonymous to him person he calls The Teacher, which has links to the Bishop Aringarosa led Opus Dei. Aringarosa, as portrayed by Alfred Molina. Circumstances send Langdon and Neveu to Sir Leigh Teabing, as portrayed by Ian McKellan.

(Jean Reno as Police Captain Bezu Fache in the Ron Howard movie The Da Vinci Code).

It was Teabing, a purported expert on the Holy Grail, who introduces a theory contrary to accepted religious canon about a relationship between Mary Magdalene and Jesus, which motivated much of the subtextual mystery functioning in the movie. Charlotte Graham portrayed Mary Magdalene in The Da Vinci Code.

(Ian McKellen as Sir Leigh Teabing in the Ron Howard movie The Da Vinci Code).

The thriller aspects of the movie, along with the intrigue underpinning the mysteries animating the story for the movie, largely worked. That the resolution went in the direction it did was a bit provocative for my taste, though that does not mean the fiction did not work. I give The Da Vinci Code as directed by Ron Howard 3.75-stars on a scale of one-to-five.

Matt – Saturday, March 23, 2024

Jesse L. Martin, Maahra Hill and Travina Springer in Season One of ‘The Irrational’

Inspired by Dan Ariely‘s book Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions, the 11-episode opening season of the National Broadcasting Company show The Irrational (2023- ) ended for the season in late February. Premiering in September 2023, the show stars Jesse L. Martin in the title role of this thriller drama series.

(From left, Arash DeMaxi as Rizwan, Molly Kunz as Phoebe, Travina Springer as Kylie, Jocelyn Hudon as Camille Lawson and Jesse L. Martin as Alec Mercer in season one of The Irrational).

Martin plays the role of Alec Mercer, an internationally known behavioral psychology professor and expert. Mercer assists governments, corporations, and law enforcement organizations including the police or the Federal Bureau of Investigation to solve crime with his psychologically earned understanding of human nature. The Alec Mercer character is based in fair measure on Dan Ariely who, like Mercer, had been burned in an explosion.

(From left, Maahra Hill as FBI Special Agent Marisa Clark and Brian King as FBI Special Agent Jace Richards in season one of The Irrational).

A fair percentage of the opening season gets into sharing the residual feelings Mercer and his ex-wife FBI agent Marisa Clark share while pursuing the parties responsible for Mercer’s injuries. Alec’s younger sister, Kylie and graduate assistants Phoebe and Rizwan each have recurring roles through all eleven episodes of the series thus far. The group supports Alec in his personal life, his teaching career and the side work he has as a consultant. Marisa, Kylie, Phoebe and Rizwan were portrayed by Maahra Hill, Travina Springer, Molly Kunz and Arash DeMaxi, respectively.

(From left, Karen David as Rose Dinshaw and Jesse L. Martin as Alec Mercer in season one of The Irrational).

Alec supports this named group interpersonally and professionally as well. The recurring storyline around the parties responsible for Alec’s injuries, which includes bringing the responsible parties to justice, ties the storytelling that opened the season to a logical and satisfying end by season’s end; the personal cost this has for the romantic life of Marisa Clark cannot be understated. The undercurrent of where the professional lives of Phoebe, Rizwan and Kylie also are nicely addressed through the season as well. That the series maintained an episodic feel that is standard fair for network television was nicely balanced.

(From left, Arash DeMaxi as Rizwan, Molly Kunz as Phoebe, Jesse L. Martin as Alec Mercer and Ben Cotton as Wes Banning in season one of The Irrational).

The Irrational was renewed for a second season in November, which guarantees the show additional episodes into what my expectations suggest will be the fall of 2024. I rate the first season of The Irrational, as created by Arika Lisanne Mittman, at 3.75-stars on a scale of one-to-five.

Matt – Wednesday, March 13, 2024

Clive Owen, Cara Bossom and Denis Ménochet in Season One of ‘Monsieur Spade’

The AMC television network aired the six-episode first season of the series Monsieur Spade (2024- ) from January 14th to February 18th. Billed as a crime-based thriller, the drama set in the south of France, specifically Bozouls, brings conspiracy to the retired detective Sam Spade keen on living a quiet retirement far from his past spent in San Francisco, California, United States.

(From left, Cara Bossom as Teresa and Clive Owen as Sam Spade in the AMC television series Monsieur Spade).

The series establishes itself as both as a period piece (ostensibly 1963) coupled with a multiple-episode introduction to the people forming the circle and local color that will lead to the mystery that makes this a Sam Spade, film noir event. Beyond establishing Clive Owen as the center piece star of the series, introducing local vineyard owner and Spade‘s romantic love interest Gabrielle, as portrayed by Chiara Mastroianni, humanizes the former detective presented as intelligent, selectively engaging and what I take for introverted.

(From left, Denis Ménochet as Chief of Police Patrice Michaud and Frank Williams as Maurice Michaud in the television series Monsieur Spade from AMC).

The opening episode lays significant ground for the mystery by placing Spade at a local convent, making payments to the sisters in support of child resident Teresa. Teresa, portrayed by Ella Feraud as a young child and Cara Bossom as a teenager, plays a crucial role from that convent to circumstances for Spade, Philippe Saint Andre as portrayed by Jonathan Zaccaï, and drama that rises in relevance as the character of the community of Bozouls reveals itself. The shocking circumstances that end the opening episode of Monsieur Spade take at least three episodes to be placed against differing threads before explanations begin to reveal themselves.

(From left, Jonathan Zaccaï as Philippe Saint Andre and Chiara Mastroianni as Gabrielle in Monsieur Spade, the AMC television series).

Threads introduced to offer depth to the mystery of the season include the ongoing investigation of the police, including brothers Patrice Michaud and Maurice Michaud, as portrayed by Denis Ménochet and Frank Williams. There is the complicated relationship of Jean-Pierre Devereaux and Marguerite (Peggy) Devereaux, who deal in the Algerian War effort. Stanley Weber and Louise Bourgoin portrayed Jean-Pierre and Marguerite, respectively.

(From left, Louise Bourgoin as Marguerite (Peggy) Devereaux and Stanley Weber as Jean-Pierre Devereaux in the AMC series Monsieur Spade).

Cynthia Fitzsimmons and George Fitzsimmons, as portrayed by Rebecca Root and Matthew Beard, offer a sense of comic relief to ultimately serious roles as what outward appearances suggest are mother and son. The pair serve as neighbors sticking close to the Sam Spade residence in the current day, inserting themselves as nosy mischief-makers into the comings and goings on their neighbors’ property.

(From left, Rebecca Root as Cynthia Fitzsimmons and Matthew Beard as George Fitzsimmons in the television series Monsieur Spade).

The revelation and action of the final pair of episodes for the season gives legitimate meaning and substance to these threads, including those of Gazala/Nun Angélique as portrayed by Inès Melab, Henri Thibaut as portrayed by Oscar Lesage, Zayd as portrayed by Ismaël Berqouch and Samir as portrayed by Hazem Hammad. The acting throughout this series was strong, especially the opening episode and the concluding two episodes. Writing for the series rests with Tom Fontana and Scott Frank, based on characters written by Dashiell Hammett.

(From left, Hazem Hammad as Samir and Ismaël Berqouch as Zayd in Monsieur Spade, a television series by AMC).

This six-episode season works thematically, episodically and from a subject matter perspective as a cable and/or streaming television program. The resolution to certain characters, the setting as a period show, and the nudity across multiple episodes make this something that would not work on network television. The setting of background through the second, third and fourth episode, while important in the setting of character, might have worked better with two fewer characters along with at least one fewer episode for the season. Given the quality of the acting, though, I grant season one of Monsieur Spade 4.0-stars on a scale of 1-to-5.

Matt – Wednesday, February 21, 2024

Richard Osman and the book ‘The Thursday Murder Club’

Offered by my mother-in-law, Honey, over the year end holidays as a book she’d like me to read and discuss, The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman is our second completed read for the new year. This murder mystery book invokes four friends in an upscale retirement community who meet to discuss unsolved crimes with an eye on seeking justice for amusement.

(Richard Osman, as pictured here, wrote The Thursday Murder Club).

Elizabeth Best, Joyce Meadowcroft, Ibrahim Arif and Ron Ritchie are four friends in their seventies with diverse backgrounds who find themselves living in the luxurious Cooper’s Chase community. At first meeting one day a week to discuss unsolved crimes, the group with mad influence and the ability to investigate crimes outside the purview of the police. The group brings striking results to the self-appointed task at hand, eventually bringing local law-enforcement into the loop as multiple examples of murder overlapping with property development rights threaten the moral codes of the septuagenarians.

(Richard Osman, as pictured here, had his book The Thursday Murder Club first published on September 3, 2020).

The police eventually brought into the circle of trust, if that notion is properly asserted here, are investigators Donna and Chris. A pair of murders in the modern day become entwined with the desire to move a cemetery attached to a convent near the retirement village. Circumstances eventually reveal more to be at hand when the remains of a specific grave reveal a second burial had taken place in the past; who is the additional resident of this burial plot and who is responsible for their presence. Without delving into the circumstances, the joy of discovering the specific did have its pleasure.

(The Thursday Murder Club is the first published novel by Richard Osman).

The premise of The Thursday Murder Club is quirky enough to have me interested, with the trend of outside groups investigating crime seeming to be an up-and-coming trend. Some of the characters brought into the story did seem to be a bit of an afterthought, which disappointed me a bit. That the investigation fell a bit flat also disappointed, though the premise was strong. Overall, my rating of The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman is 3.5-stars on a scale of 1-to-5.

Matt – Wednesday, January 24, 2024

Denzel Washington, Christopher Walken and Dakota Fanning in the Tony Scott movie ‘Man on Fire’

The 1980 novel Man on Fire by A.J. Quinell (aka Philip Nicholson) is the basis of an action crime drama directed by Tony Scott. Man on Fire (2004), presented by Scott as based in Mexico rather than Italy like in the book, treats us to a sweet if unlikely relationship between a despondent alcoholic and a kidnapped young child.

(From left, Denzel Washington as John Creasy and Christopher Walken as Paul Rayburn in the Tony Scott movie Man on Fire).

In this movie set in 2003, the former Central Intelligence Agency paramilitary officer John Creasy visits old friend Paul Rayburn. Convinced by Rayburn to take a bodyguard position for Mexico City automaker Samuel Ramos, Creasy begins protecting Ramos’ young daughter Lupita (called Pita); the kidnapping insurance policy on Lupita Ramos required the hiring of a bodyguard. Creasy, Rayburn, Samuel Ramos and Pita were portrayed by Denzel Washington, Christopher Walken, Marc Anthony and Dakota Fanning, respectively.

(From left, Dakota Fanning as Lupita (Pita) Ramos and Radha Mitchell as Lisa Ramos in the Tony Scott movie Man on Fire).

Burned out, guilty of his past with the CIA and consumed with a need to drink alcohol, Creasy had attempted to end his life. Saved when his gun misfires, and reminded by Rayburn that “a bullet always tells the truth,” a new lease on life renews Creasy. With new purpose in protecting Pita, reduced drinking and an interest in the Bible, Creasy bonds with Pita through the protection detail and an interest taken in the girl’s swimming.

(From left, Giancarlo Giannini as Miguel Manzano and Rachel Ticotin as Mariana Garcia Guerrero in the Tony Scott movie Man on Fire).

It was following a piano lesson that the storytelling moved from establishing background truths to moving in a severe direction. Two Federal Judicial Police had taken to blocking the street whereupon Pita would be abducted. Killing attackers and sustaining critical injuries, Creasy becomes a suspect. Reporter Mariana Garcia Guerrero as portrayed by Rachel Ticotin and Federal Ministerial Police officer Miguel Manzano take exceptional steps in protecting Creasy against the allegations and concrete threats placed on his life while regaining some semblance of health. Giancarlo Giannini portrayed Manzano.

(From left, Mickey Rourke as Jordan Kalfus and Marc Anthony as Samuel Ramos in the Tony Scott movie Man on Fire).

The threading of the backstory including Jordan Kalfus and Samuel Ramos, as portrayed by Mickey Rourke and Marc Anthony, respectively, mixed in well with a vengeance tale that, at some level necessary and foreseeable, from the earliest parts of the movie. The gravitas of getting to that resolution was carried through with subtlety and finesse, with the understatement of Denzel Washington‘s style in getting there serving as a redeeming quality for the film. That multiple characters stood up to do the right thing in winning the day for the film, while necessary, made for a sizable message of righteousness that felt, oddly enough, out of place for me in this film.

(Director Tony Scott on location for the Tony Scott movie Man on Fire).

I enjoyed this movie, with the screenplay as written by Brian Helgeland, more than might seem like I did. My score for Man on Fire as directed by Tony Scott is 3.5-stars on a scale of 1-to-5.

Matt – Wednesday, January 10, 2024

Clint Eastwood, Gene Hackman and Ed Harris in the Clint Eastwood movie ‘Absolute Power’

Starring in the movie Absolute Power (1997) wasn’t enough for Clint Eastwood, who produced and directed the movie based on the 1996 David Baldacci novel also named Absolute Power. This crime drama is filled with action and political intrigue involving the United States president, a billionaire, a master thief and what happens when those elements collide.

(From left, Melora Hardin as Christy Sullivan and Gene Hackman as President Alan Richmond in the Clint Eastwood movie Absolute Power).

Absolute Power opens with master thief Luther Whitney having broken into the Washington DC area mansion of billionaire Walter Sullivan to steal, at minimum, from the bedroom vault of the man portrayed by E.G. Marshall. Whitney, as portrayed by Clint Eastwood, finds himself forced to hide in the bedroom vault with one-way mirror of the Virginia mansion when  Christy Sullivan returns to the bedroom on a drunken rendezvous with inebriated U.S. President Alan Richmond. Whitney watches as Richmond becomes sexually violent towards Sullivan, with Sullivan wounding the president with a letter opener in self-defense. Melora Hardin and Gene Hackman portrayed Christy Sullivan and President Richmond, respectively.

(From left, Scott Glenn as Bill Burton, Judy Davis as Gloria Russell and Dennis Haysbert as Tim Collin in the Clint Eastwood movie Absolute Power).

U.S. Secret Service agents Bill Burton and Tim Collin burst in when the president screams out in distress. Christy Sullivan is fatally shot when Burton and Collin, respectively portrayed by Scott Glenn and Dennis Haysbert, see Sullivan poised to stab Alan Richmond a second time. Presidential Chief of Staff Gloria Russell, as portrayed by Judy Davis, arrives to guide the secret service agents in staging the scene to look like a burglary gone wrong. Whitney goes undiscovered through much of this staging, not being discovered until making what turns out to be a successful escape from the scene of the crimes.

(From left, Ed Harris as Seth Frank and Clint Eastwood as Luther Whitney in the Clint Eastwood movie Absolute Power).

Portrayed by Ed Harris, Detective Seth Frank leads the police investigation into the Christy Sullivan death that had been staged to look like a burglary gone wrong. Whitney becomes a prime suspect in the investigation, which brings Luther Whitney’s estranged daughter Kate Whitney, as portrayed by Laura Linney, into the storyline.

(From left, E.G. Marshall as Walter Sullivan and Gene Hackman as President Alan Richmond in the Clint Eastwood movie Absolute Power).

Luther Whitney had a mind to flee the country in the aftermath of his escape from the Sullivan mansion. Becoming angry when seeing Alan Richmond offer an expression of empathy to Walter Sullivan following Christy Sullivan’s death that points to the cover-up, Luther Whitney changes course to one of proving the duplicity of Alan Richmond to Walter Sullivan. The portrayal of that, combined with the motivations and actions underpinning Richmond, Walter Sullivan, Bill Burton, Tim Collin, Michael McCarty as portrayed by Richard Jenkins, and others, offer a compelling line of intrigue and tension around how the competing end games will work themselves out.

(From left, Laura Linney as Kate Whitney and Richard Jenkins as Michael McCarty in the Clint Eastwood movie Absolute Power).

William Goldman proved a capable screenwriter in adapting Absolute Power for the movies. The ride offered intrigue, suspense and emotional stakes to allow me to recommend this movie for viewing. I give Absolute Power as directed and produced by Clint Eastwood 3.75-stars on a scale of 1-to-5.

Matt – Saturday, December 9, 2023

Aaron Paul, Jonathan Banks and Matt Jones in the Vince Gilligan movie ‘El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie’

Some six-years following the end of the Breaking Bad (2008-2013) television series, series creator Vince Gilligan gave fans of the series something that had been missing from the end of the original show. That something was a clear telling of what happened to character Aaron Paul‘s Jesse Pinkman, the student criminal to aid Bryan Cranston‘s Walter White in the building of the Heisenberg drug syndicate. The Vince Gilligan written and directed movie El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie (2019) puzzles out that story for us.

(From left, Aaron Paul as Jesse Pinkman and Jonathan Banks as Mike Ehrmantraut in the Vince Gilligan movie El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie).

The ability to leave his past, his captors and law enforcement behind is the goal placed in front of Jesse Pinkman from the outset of El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie. Beginning with a flashback to the immediate point that Mike Ehrmantraut and Jesse leave the crystal meth business of Walter White, we see the framing of this movie with the question for where Jesse should flea. Mike, portrayed by Jonathan Banks, advises against making amends for the past with the further suggestion to head for Alaska to make a new beginning.

(From left, Charles Baker as Skinny Pete and Matt Jones as Brandon ‘Badger’ Mayhew in the Vince Gilligan movie El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie).

In the present day, we see Jesse fleeing to the Albuquerque, New Mexico home of Brandon ‘Badger’ Mayhew and Skinny Pete, as respectively portrayed by Matt Jones and Charles Baker. Hiding the Chevrolet El Camino of Todd Alquist that Jesse fled his captors in, Jesse first is given the chance to sleep, shower and recover in the immediate aftermath of his captivity. Devising a plan to make it appear that Jesse would flea in Pete’s Ford Thunderbird while actually making an escape in Badger’s Pontiac Fiero, Badger heads south towards Mexico in the Thunderbird while Skinny Pete stays with the LoJacked El Camino. Meanwhile, Jesse makes his way in the Fiero. Jesse Plemons portrayed Todd Alquist.

(From left, Aaron Paul as Jesse Pinkman and Jesse Plemons as Todd Alquist in the Vince Gilligan movie El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie).

Told largely through flashback, we are at first presented to Todd Alquist’s apartment in an odd twist. Alquist actually springs Jesse from the duty of captivity and crystal meth production to address a uniquely personal situation that grew out of Alquist’s need to stash the money earned in the drug business. Addressing that distasteful business gives Jesse the knowledge that a large quantity of money will be stored at the apartment; knowledge of Alquist’s busybody neighbor Lou Schanzer becomes the secondary important knowledge piece that comes into play later when Jesse comes into contact with Neil Kandy and Casey. Tom Bower portrayed Lou Schanzer.

(From left, Scott MacArthur as Neil Kandy and Scott Shepherd as Casey in the Vince Gilligan movie El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie).

As the notion that nothing comes easy or with zero cost proved itself useful to the storytelling of Breaking Bad, the intersections of the Neil Kandy and Casey tales in Jesse’s desire to flea is perhaps the most clever and consistent to that style of any story within El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie. Neil and Casey, portrayed by Scott MacArthur and Scott Shepherd respectively, dovetail into the Ed Galbraith story quite nicely as necessary plot point in Jesse’s fleeing the greater Albuquerque area and Painted Desert, Arizona area. These storylines offer the creative tension and, ultimately, resolution to Jesse’s story that were arguably owed to the viewers of the original Breaking Bad series. Robert Forster portrayed Ed Galbraith.

(Robert Forster as Ed Galbraith in the Vince Gilligan movie El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie).

Shoutouts to individual characters from the original series, including asides, callouts, imaginings or subtle references to Walter White, Diane Pinkman as portrayed by Tess Harper, Adam Pinkman as portrayed by Michael Bofshever, Jane Margolis as portrayed by Krysten Ritter and Brock Cantillo as portrayed by Ian Posada, were all nice touches. I give Breaking Bad as written and directed by Vince Gilligan 3.75-stars on a scale of 1-to-5.

Matt – Saturday, November 18, 2023

Titus Welliver, Jamie Hector and Amy Aquino in Season Five of ‘Bosch’

The Michael Connelly character Hieronymus (Harry) Bosch first premiered in a series of books begun in 1992. As this is written, the character has led to 24 distinct books and two distinct television shows. We focus here on the fifth season of the series Bosch (2014-2021), starring Titus Welliver in the title role. This season is based on Michael Connelly‘s book Two Kinds of Truth.

(From left, Chris Vance as Dalton Walsh and Titus Welliver as Harry Bosch in season 5 of the Amazon original series Bosch).

Season five of Bosch picks up fifteen months after season four, with the dust having settled from the Elias case led by Harry Bosch, the exemplary accomplishment of having solved a case with ingenuity for Detectives Moore and Johnson, Eleanor Wish’s murder and its aftermath, and finally some firm knowledge underpinning precisely why Harry Bosch‘s mother in fact died. The season quickly moves past this into a pharmacy murder by men in masks pitted next to the review of an old case from early in Bosch‘s career. The case, investigated by Chief Irvin Irving and Harry Bosch, could raise uncomfortable questions about several closed should things go badly. The late Lance Reddick portrayed Irving.

(From left, Jacqueline Pinol as Detective Julie Espinosa and Jamie Hector as Jerry Edgar in season 5 of the Amazon original series Bosch).

The old case up for a review leads Bosch to hire attorney Honey Chandler, the attorney opposing Bosch‘s professional interests in the season 4 Elias case, to defend him against charges of planting evidence. Hector Bonner does much of the investigation on Bosh’s behalf. Meanwhile, Maddie Bosch is working in the Los Angeles Police Department through the summer, with an interesting balance for her between loyalty to her father, personality traits of her mother, and potential romantic feelings budding through the season. Mimi Rogers portrayed Chandler as Ryan Hurst portrayed Bonner.

(From left, Gregory Scott Cummins as Detective Crate Moore and Troy Evans as Detective Barrel Johnson in season 5 of the Amazon original series Bosch).

An interesting side story, as Bosch investigates the pharmacy murder turned pill mill undercover case with Jerry Edgar, becomes the ongoing story of the age of partner detectives Crate Moore and Barrel Johnson, as portrayed by Gregory Scott Cummins and Troy Evans. The response the two had to a crime in progress made a situation worse, led to a punishment for the detectives, and in the process created a headache for Lieutenant Grace Billets. Billets, as portrayed by Amy Aquino, work to defend Johnson and Moore while the two uncover an unethical yet real world practice of reporting borderline felony crimes as misdemeanors to improve the departmental records.

(Madison Lintz as Maddie Bosch in season 5 of the Amazon original series Bosch).

This headache for Billets happens in parallel to the pill mill case that sees Harry Bosch lose contact with Jerry Edgar. This off the books methodology functions well outside the chain-of-command, with Billets sticking her neck out in not escalating this up the chain when she first catches wind of the judgment calls that would be sure to ruffle the feathers of Chief Irving, who has been managing his involvement with the Christina Henry investigation of Bosch, oversite of impropriety by police in their manner of contact with the public, and a further recommendation that he, Irving, consider a run for mayor. Bianca Kajlich portrayed Henry.

(From left, Amy Aquino as Lieutenant Grace Billets and Scott Klace as Sergeant John Mankiewicz in season 5 of the Amazon original series Bosch).

The ninth and tenth episodes of this ten-episode season were the best of this season, which originally released in 2019. The truth underpinning the individual characters continued to be spot on to the truths that had come before, while giving us new developments and character paths that help me wish to keep on coming back. I give season five of Bosch 4.25-stars on a scale of 1-to-5.

Matt – Saturday, September 16, 2023