Elmore Leonard's novels were filled with sharp dialogue, vivid characters and intricate plotting -- not for nothing have lots and lots of people described his writing as cinematic.
Yet for as prolific and as great a writer as he was, Leonard -- who died Tuesday (Aug. 20) at age 87 -- didn't have a lot of good luck when his work was translated to the screen. A lot of the adaptations of his novels and short stories turned out to be duds, and he said he grew tired of writing screenplays as well.
"I haven't written a screenplay since '93, that's when I said, 'I'm not writing any more of these, it's just work," Leonard said in a 2012 interview. "Because you're working with a studio executive who really doesn't know much, if anything, about writing what works and what doesn't. So, why put yourself in that position when you have to do that?...
Yet for as prolific and as great a writer as he was, Leonard -- who died Tuesday (Aug. 20) at age 87 -- didn't have a lot of good luck when his work was translated to the screen. A lot of the adaptations of his novels and short stories turned out to be duds, and he said he grew tired of writing screenplays as well.
"I haven't written a screenplay since '93, that's when I said, 'I'm not writing any more of these, it's just work," Leonard said in a 2012 interview. "Because you're working with a studio executive who really doesn't know much, if anything, about writing what works and what doesn't. So, why put yourself in that position when you have to do that?...
- 8/20/2013
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Pop2it
The last time we saw Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard together on the big screen was for 2010.s lackluster .When in Rome.. Now, the real-life sweethearts team up for .Hit and Run. and I can tell you that this romantic car chase comedy is much better than their previous pairing.
The film draws you in right from the very beginning when Annie (Bell) and Charlie (Shepard) are canoodling on the bed. We get to meet the main characters in their most intimate moment. Charlie is trying to sooth his fiancée, Annie, because she is extremely nervous. She.s on her way to meeting her boss at a local college, Debby Kreeger, played by the scene stealing Kristin Chenoweth.
There are indeed many scene stealers in the movie. Among them is Tom Arnold as the bumbling U.S. Marshal Randy Anderson. He.s there to protect Charlie, who we learn, is within the witness protection program.
The film draws you in right from the very beginning when Annie (Bell) and Charlie (Shepard) are canoodling on the bed. We get to meet the main characters in their most intimate moment. Charlie is trying to sooth his fiancée, Annie, because she is extremely nervous. She.s on her way to meeting her boss at a local college, Debby Kreeger, played by the scene stealing Kristin Chenoweth.
There are indeed many scene stealers in the movie. Among them is Tom Arnold as the bumbling U.S. Marshal Randy Anderson. He.s there to protect Charlie, who we learn, is within the witness protection program.
- 8/21/2012
- by Manny
- Manny the Movie Guy
Time for the best episode of the show all season, y'all - hometown dates. We're not sure anything on this season of "The Bachelorette" can top the bird funeral or the taxidermy dad, but Jeffff's giant family is where we hold out the most hope for crazypants shenanigans.
Emily gives us a video/voice over recap of the final four guys and her assertion that Jeffff is a "guy with an edge" is laughable. Jeffff has an edge like a super ball. Arie has much more of an edge, though none of those doofuses are any kind of "bad boy." Which is good, but we're just saying.
Emily says Sean makes her feel safe and taken care of, by which she means "tingly in her naughty places," we think. Seriously, the two of them pretty much only have their making out going on.
Chris' Date, Chicago
Hopefully Chris has...
Emily gives us a video/voice over recap of the final four guys and her assertion that Jeffff is a "guy with an edge" is laughable. Jeffff has an edge like a super ball. Arie has much more of an edge, though none of those doofuses are any kind of "bad boy." Which is good, but we're just saying.
Emily says Sean makes her feel safe and taken care of, by which she means "tingly in her naughty places," we think. Seriously, the two of them pretty much only have their making out going on.
Chris' Date, Chicago
Hopefully Chris has...
- 7/3/2012
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Zap2It - From Inside the Box
Exclusive: United Talent Agency has signed prolific crime writer Elmore Leonard, who has retained a major Hollywood agency for the first time in his 60-year career. UTA will rep Leonard in film, TV, digital and allied rights. Leonard, who continues with literary agent Andrew Wylie, is eager to see more of his books adapted for the screen. He has written 45 Westerns and crime novels, and 40 short stories. His enthusiasm is understandable. Leonard’s 2002 short story Fire In The Hole was the basis for the superb FX series Justified, which stars Timothy Olyphant as deputy U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens. Leonard told me in May 2010 that he’d sworn off writing screenplays in 1993 (his past scripts include the Charles Bronson film Mr. Majestyk) because he got tired of trying to please movie executives half as smart as he is about storytelling. But Justified provided a big spark, he is an active voice for series creator Graham Yost,...
- 5/8/2012
- by MIKE FLEMING
- Deadline
Your Weekly Source for the Newest Releases to Blu-Ray Tuesday, August 2nd, 2011
Better Off Dead (1985)
Synopsis: Lane Meyer is a depressed teen who loses his girlfriend Beth. Her given reason for breaking up is: “Lane, I think it’d be in my best interest if I dated somebody more popular. Better looking. Drives a nicer car.” Anyway, poor Lane is left alone and thinks up treacherous ways of killing himself. He finally meets a French beauty called Monique and falls for her. Simultaneously, he must endure his mother’s terrible cooking which literally slides off the table and his disgusting next door neighbour Ricky (and his mum) while he prepares for the skiing race of his life – to get his old girlfriend back! (blu-ray.com)
Special Features: Theatrical trailer.
Double Feature: Black Sheep/Tommy Boy (1996/1995)
Synopsis: Black Sheep - A gubernatorial candidate hires a wormy special assistant whose only job...
Better Off Dead (1985)
Synopsis: Lane Meyer is a depressed teen who loses his girlfriend Beth. Her given reason for breaking up is: “Lane, I think it’d be in my best interest if I dated somebody more popular. Better looking. Drives a nicer car.” Anyway, poor Lane is left alone and thinks up treacherous ways of killing himself. He finally meets a French beauty called Monique and falls for her. Simultaneously, he must endure his mother’s terrible cooking which literally slides off the table and his disgusting next door neighbour Ricky (and his mum) while he prepares for the skiing race of his life – to get his old girlfriend back! (blu-ray.com)
Special Features: Theatrical trailer.
Double Feature: Black Sheep/Tommy Boy (1996/1995)
Synopsis: Black Sheep - A gubernatorial candidate hires a wormy special assistant whose only job...
- 8/1/2011
- by Travis Keune
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Retro TV shows have been source material for many movies, including this week's "The A-Team" -- and it's always fun to see how they re-envision the small screen versions for the big screen. Here are 10 favorites to remember.
10 TV-Turned-Movie Favorites"Transformers" (2007)
The live-action redo from the TV animated series follows along the same lines, detailing an ancient struggle that re-erupts on Earth between two extraterrestrial clans — the heroic Autobots and the evil Decepticons — with a...
10 TV-Turned-Movie Favorites"Transformers" (2007)
The live-action redo from the TV animated series follows along the same lines, detailing an ancient struggle that re-erupts on Earth between two extraterrestrial clans — the heroic Autobots and the evil Decepticons — with a...
- 6/13/2010
- Extra
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