Zap2it.com reports director Doug Liman and writer Simon Kinberg are attached to an ABC pilot based on last summer's Brad Pitt-Angelina Jolie vehicle. The stars themselves will not be involved, so as Rick Springfield sang, "the point is prob'ly moot."
I'll always have a soft spot for the Scott Bakula-produced "Mr. & Mrs. Smith," starring Bakula and Maria Bello as industrial spies.
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
THE DEVIL'S RIGHT HAND by J.D. Rhoades
A long, long time ago it seems, I read the works of Robert B. Parker, Jeremiah Healy, Robert Crais, and Harlan Coben two or three books a week. Having expanded my horizons since then, I've come to know how rarely the voices of distraction and criticism take a few hours off.
In every case above, the prose was crisp enough, the characters real enough, for me to forgive most trifles and keep reading. One more chapter, one more scene, I could think of nothing more important than finding out what happened next.
I'm happy to report the same reaction to J.D. Rhoades's debut novel. Bail jumper DeWayne Puryear and his cousin Leonard decide to hold up the owner of a timber company for some quick cash. When the holdup results in the owner's death, DeWayne finds himself in double trouble, pursued by bounty hunter protag Jack Keller, who just wants to bring him in, and by the owner's vengeful, drug-dealing son, who's out for blood.
Keller is tough—built like a linebacker with shoulder-length blond hair (Kevin Greene, anyone?)—but also damaged, yet retains some do-gooder naivete. He is backed by his boss, Angela Hager—who survived her husband's attempt to mutilate and burn her in a fire—and by his lawyer, slick and smooth-talking Scott McCaskill.
My one peeve about the novel is its multi-viewpoint structure, which led to the partial rehashing of several scenes. Again, in general I think this is an ill-advised attempt to duplicate movie effects in a book. Thankfully, Rhoades doesn't cut rapidly too often, spending enough time with each character to hook me.
Of course, the main villain takes as much if not more punishment than Keller and survives to the penultimate page, but what else would you expect from a page-turner? Recommended for fans of flowing prose and a good chase.
In every case above, the prose was crisp enough, the characters real enough, for me to forgive most trifles and keep reading. One more chapter, one more scene, I could think of nothing more important than finding out what happened next.
I'm happy to report the same reaction to J.D. Rhoades's debut novel. Bail jumper DeWayne Puryear and his cousin Leonard decide to hold up the owner of a timber company for some quick cash. When the holdup results in the owner's death, DeWayne finds himself in double trouble, pursued by bounty hunter protag Jack Keller, who just wants to bring him in, and by the owner's vengeful, drug-dealing son, who's out for blood.
Keller is tough—built like a linebacker with shoulder-length blond hair (Kevin Greene, anyone?)—but also damaged, yet retains some do-gooder naivete. He is backed by his boss, Angela Hager—who survived her husband's attempt to mutilate and burn her in a fire—and by his lawyer, slick and smooth-talking Scott McCaskill.
My one peeve about the novel is its multi-viewpoint structure, which led to the partial rehashing of several scenes. Again, in general I think this is an ill-advised attempt to duplicate movie effects in a book. Thankfully, Rhoades doesn't cut rapidly too often, spending enough time with each character to hook me.
Of course, the main villain takes as much if not more punishment than Keller and survives to the penultimate page, but what else would you expect from a page-turner? Recommended for fans of flowing prose and a good chase.
StarTrek.com: Masterson to Co-Star in Film Noir/Sci-Fi Project
Chase Masterson, "Leeta" in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, has been cast in a new independent film described as a "film noir" piece with elements of science fiction and science fact. "Yesterday Was a Lie" is a detective thriller that incorporates discussions of quantum mechanics and other reality-bending topics in its mystery tale.
In fact, the movie's lead, Kipleigh Brown, is a Trek alumnus herself. Brown appeared in the Enterprise third-season episode "The Forgotten" as "Jane Taylor," the deceased crew member whom Trip Tucker talks to in a dream.
In "Yesterday" Brown plays "Hoyle," the protagonist who "uncovers a plot to unravel earth-shattering cosmological secrets, smuggled out of 1930s Germany by a Nazi defector," according to the synopsis. Masterson plays a "glamorous lounge singer" who assists Hoyle in the investigation.
Principal photography begins soon. Distribution arrangements are pending. A teaser trailer can be found at the movie's official site, www.YesterdayWasALie.com.
In a blog on the site, Brown praises the addition of Masterson to the cast. "The moment Chase walked through the door and read for us, something almost palpable clicked into place. She has the passion, the heart and the soul so crucial to this project... not to mention the incredible intellect, talent and beauty," she writes.
In fact, the movie's lead, Kipleigh Brown, is a Trek alumnus herself. Brown appeared in the Enterprise third-season episode "The Forgotten" as "Jane Taylor," the deceased crew member whom Trip Tucker talks to in a dream.
In "Yesterday" Brown plays "Hoyle," the protagonist who "uncovers a plot to unravel earth-shattering cosmological secrets, smuggled out of 1930s Germany by a Nazi defector," according to the synopsis. Masterson plays a "glamorous lounge singer" who assists Hoyle in the investigation.
Principal photography begins soon. Distribution arrangements are pending. A teaser trailer can be found at the movie's official site, www.YesterdayWasALie.com.
In a blog on the site, Brown praises the addition of Masterson to the cast. "The moment Chase walked through the door and read for us, something almost palpable clicked into place. She has the passion, the heart and the soul so crucial to this project... not to mention the incredible intellect, talent and beauty," she writes.
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