Posts Tagged ‘Tony Scott’
Beginnings
February 17th, 2019 Posted 7:13 am
On Sunday we’ve been doing beginnings – all the Peter Abrahams novels, including those written under the Spencer Quinn pen name. Here, from 1995, THE FAN (filmed by Tony Scott with a fine cast). Sports often play a role in PA’s work, but never more than in this one. It begins with sports talk radio – a kind of Greek chorus that appears several times in the book. Gil is the fan.
[“Peter Abrahams’ The Fan is a shrewdly crafted thriller about a spoiled, egotistical home run hitter and the schlemiel hunting knife dealer’s rep whose hero worship metastasizes into obsession…the tale’s sharp characterizations, crisp style, and unpredictable plot twists add up to a highly credible and suspenseful literary entertainment.” – Entertainment Weekly]
“Who’s next? Gil on the car phone? What’s shaking’, Gil?”
Dead air.
“Speak, Gil.”
“Is this …”
“Go on.”
“Hello?”
“You’re on the JOC.”
“Am I on?”
“Not for long, Gil, the way we’re going. This is supposed to be entertainment.”
Dead air.
“Got a question or a comment for us, Gil?”
“First-time caller.”
“Fantabulous. What’s on your mind?”
“I’m a little nervous.”
Tags: baseball, beginnings, Greek chorus, The Fan, Tony Scott
Posted in Chet The Dog
Beginnings (More)
February 25th, 2018 Posted 8:54 am
On Sunday we’ve been doing beginnings – all the Chet and Bernie’s (as part of Chetspeak) – and now taking on all the Peter Abrahams novels in chronological order. Here, from 1995, #8 – THE FAN. It was made into a movie of the same name, directed by the late Tony Scott and starring Robert De Niro, Wesley Snipes, John Leguizamo, Benicio Del Toro, and Ellen Barkin. It begins with sports talk radio, which I used as kind of a Greek chorus.
“Who’s next? Gil on the car phone? What’s shaking’, Gil?”
Dead air.
“Speak, Gil.”
“Is this …”
“Go on.”
“Hello?”
“You’re on the JOC.”
“Am I on?”
“Not for long, Gil, the way we’re going. This is supposed to be entertainment.”
Dead air.
“Got a question or a comment for us, Gil?”
“First-time caller.”
“Fantabulous. What’s on your mind?”
“I’m a little nervous.”
Tags: Benicio Del Toro, Ellen Barkin, Greek chorus, John Leguizamo, Robert De Niro, sports talk radio, The Fan, Tony Scott, Wesley Snipes
Posted in Chet The Dog
Chet At Mesquite Road For The First Time
August 20th, 2012 Posted 9:03 am
What a nice kitchen! Not big, but full of light. On the counter lay fast-food containers—a very good sign, fast food being one of the best human inventions going—not quite empty and really not all that old, to judge from the odor. The table was mostly covered in papers, a big glass of bourbon—the scent impossible to miss— topping one stack.
“Everything to your satisfaction?”
I turned and there was Bernie watching me from the kitchen doorway. What was the question? I’d missed it.
“Just don’t get too comfortable,” Bernie said.
That one blew right by me. Was there even such a thing? I wagged my tail, one of my go-to moves.
From A Cat Was Involved (the Chet and Bernie “origin story” now available for download.) ($.99!)
Welcome Aspen Ann, Shadow, Bear.
R.I.P.: Tony Scott
Tags: A Cat Was Involved, Tony Scott
Posted in Chet The Dog
