Angel Heart: Blood, Sweat and Swamps … !

23·12, 1-7-2012.

You know, I REALLY have to admit, there’s time I run out of stars, I really do … !

Anyone that’s been reading the Old Peculiar for a while, now, will realise I’ve been rating movies, now from zero stars (☆☆☆☆) — which is where I’m bluntly tell you not to waste you money — all the way up to four stars.   ★★★★, or Go buy or rent this film, now!

And while I don’t hand out zero (☆☆☆☆) that often — I try and find something good about a film, however bad — I usually try to make sure when I hand out a high rating, I hand it out to a film that deserves it.

Then, frankly … ?

Then, frankly, there’s the films you SERIOUSLY want to rave about … !

Four stars (★★★★) somehow, doesn’t seem enough … !

What I’m trying to say, here … ?

Is that simply, you’ll have to take the timestamp of a given Movie Night post into account: the nearer the start of the post to the end of a film I’ve given a good rating to … ?

Frankly, the better.

And, boy, I’ve just seen a film that qualifies as a Late Night Starter, let’s put it THAT way … !

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The reason I’m burbling like this … ?

Is that I’m thinking I’ve just seen a film that qualifies as a Late Night Raver.

The Alan Parker directed, 1987 film starring Mickey Rourke that is … 

Angel Heart.

And if, like me, you’ve not seen it before now … ?   I’d urge you to change that … !   iTunes rentals are there for a reason … !

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Set in 1955, Angel Heart sees Mickey Rourke as Harry Angel, a down-at-heels private investigator who’s hired by a mysterious client — Louis Cyphre, Robert De Niro, possibly the most menacing version of the Devil I’ve seen — to find a missing singer called Johnnie Favourite: a singer, it seems who owes Mr Cyphre, after reneging on a contract.

The case goes badly from the start: as Harry finds himself chasing all sorts of leads: initially, starting in New York, and then all the way down to New Orleans, the sweaty beating heart of Louisiana.

It gets worse, though … 

Because, of course, the bodies start piling up.

And the local police start to suspect Harry is Suspect Number 1 … 

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Now, I was saying about giving handing out high ratings … ?

You betcha!

Angel Heart is a lush, entrancing movie, and one I’m willing to bet looks as good now as it did on it’s initial release.

What’s more … ?

What’s more, it manages one hell of a noir plot-line, great little performances from it’s cast … 

AND has both Brownie McGhee and Pinetop Perkins putting in appearances.

What more do you want … ?

Go get, folks!

Angel Heart
★★★★

Identity Crisis: Blood, Swearing … And Terribly Entertaining …

Can I ask you a question, here, folks … ?

Can I … ?

Actully, no, forget I asked … !

I’m going to, anyway … !

Ever hear the phrase, page-turner … ?

You have … ?

Me too …

And I’ve always felt that — with rare exceptions — it’s not a term I apply to every book that I read.

Terry Pratchett’s usually an exception, for example: Thud, Nightwatch and Nation, in particular.

Oh, and Dune …

I really can’t be forgetting Frank Herbert’s Dune …

The point I’m trying to make, here, is simply that it’s not often I come across a page-turner.

I think I just have …

»»•««

Do you remember, a while back, I wrote rather extensively about Brentwood Library, and how it was going to have its hours adjusted … ?

As part of that, Debbi, bless ’er — writer, recovering lawyer, and one of my regular contributors — got in touch with Essex Library’s head, Susan Carragher, and offered to donate some copies of her first novel, Identity Crisis.

I went and ordered a copy, as soon as I got word they were in …

»»•««

I’m glad I did …

Identity Crisis sees Stephanie Ann “Sam” MacRæ — Maryland lawyer at arms — finding her working day starting with something nasty at her office: her friendly local plain-clothes police officer, Detective Derry … accompanied by the somewhat obstreperousª FBI agent, Special Agent Jergins.

Seems they want to ask a few questions about a former client of hers, a certain Melanie Hayes.

Who’s gone missing.

After her ex boyfriend — Melanie had filed a Domestic Abuse complaint against him, with Sam’s help — has been fatally shot …

On top of that … ?

Sam’s found out that there’s quite a few odd things happening with bank account: which is at the same bank where Melanie works …

And on top of that … ?

There’s a bunch of seriously unfriendly Mafiosi floating around in all of this, with threatening cars that make President Obama’s Beast look lightweight …

»»•««

Now, I was saying page turner, earlier … ?

Yes, I was, wasn’t I … ?

Now, I know that one could — arguably — make the point that Identity Crisis is possibly a little much like a latter day Miss Marple.

Possibly …

One could also argue that Identity Crisis is possibly even a touch tame*: especially me, having seen various shades of gruesome horror movie and crime thriller, over the years.

That’s also possible …

On the other hand, though … ?

On the other hand, though, Debbi, bless her, has written a bit of a corker … !

I actually found meself patiently going to bed and spending a long time reading Identity Crisis, night after night and chapter by chapter, wanting to know what happens in the next chapter, and how Sam either deals with a problem, finds information, or puts another next piece of the puzzle in place.

Identity Crisis is a rock solid read, literally a page-turner.

And what’s more … ?

It’s also an entertaining one, that’s built a nicely solid introduction to Sam McRæ and her world …

That I think I’ll be heading for my local library to see if I can’t get hold of Least Wanted.

I want to know what happens next … !

Identity Crisis by Debbi Mack.

Lulu.com; July 2009

ISBN: 978-0-557-08325-1

Paul: “Identity Crisis? It’s a Keeper!” ★★★☆

* In spite of one use of the ‘C’ word: I’ve known people who have done serious time, for serious crime and are seriously nasty, and even they’ll raise an eyebrow at that one … ! (To be fair, though, Debbi DID tell me she was trying to drop the hint that these guys weren’t pleasant … )

ª I‘m almost tempted to say mildly snotty. Or even slightly tetchy …