The Ricochet Reviewer: Books, Movies, and Comics

by Nick Carter (AKA Michael Avallone and Valerie Moolman) Secret agent Nick Carter of AXE investigates a series  of assassinations that are meant to weaken anti-Communist regimes around the world.  Thus begins the long-running Killmaster series.  Though Michael Avallone and Valerie Moolman are often both credited as the pseudonymous Nick Carter for this premiere outing, word on the Internet is that this is purely an Avallone production.  Michael Avallone He—and whoever else may have had a hand in developing this character—owes a lot to classic pulp heroes developed under the house name Kenneth Robeson: Doc Savage and The Avenger.  "Run, Spy, Run" (Finnish) Nick’s habit of naming his German Luger Wilhelmina and his Italian stiletto Hugo is reminiscent of Richard Benson’s trusty revolver/throwing knife combo of Mike and Ike. He also carries Pierre, a marble-sized gas pellet similar to gas weapons used by both Benson and Savage. Like Doc Savage, he follows a strict regimen of es

  HALLOWEEN REVIEWS 2024 Director: Dario Argento Writers: Dario Argento and Bernardino Zapponi Stars: David Hemmings, Daria Nicolodi, Gabriele Lavia, Macha Meril, Eros Pagni, Giuliana Calandra, Piero Mazzinghi, Glauco Mauri A piano player (David Hemmings) becomes obsessed  with solving the murder of a psychic who lived in his building.   This beloved production from Dario Argento, which is pretty much universally hailed as a masterpiece of giallo, went right by me.   I can’t deny that there are many beautifully composed shots and some genuinely creepy images, but it suffers greatly in the areas of plot, pacing, and performance.   There are many, many tedious scenes of characters stalking through rooms and hallways, looking for something or dreading something, which is absolutely not suspenseful, especially when the jarring music of Italian rockers Goblin comes crashing in.   I won’t write off giallo completely, but it’s not a well that I will be dipping into often.   Now that I think a

Director: Hilary Birmingham Writers: Hilary Birmingham, Matt Drake, story by Tom McNeal Stars: Glenn Fitzgerald, Anson Mount, Bob Burrus, Julianne Nicholson, Laura Walker, Joe Smalley, Tim Driscoll, Aaron Zavitz, Kristopher Kling Life for a father (Bob Burrus) and his two sons (Anson  Mount and Glenn Fitzgerald) on their Nebraska farm is disrupted by an unexpected foreclosure notice that causes the revelation of family secrets concerning the absent mother.  This quiet but powerful drama has a deliberate pace that matches the long, slow summer days and nights of a rural community.   Deceptively uneventful on the surface, the film seethes with repressed emotion underneath, and the end is heartbreaking.   A terrific cast makes these honest, hard-working characters into people that you could expect to meet on the street.

Director: Garry Marshall Writer: Terence McNally, based on his play Stars: Al Pacino, Michelle Pfeiffer, Hector Elizondo, Nathan Lane, Kate Nelligan, Jane Morris, Greg Lewis, Al Fann, Ele Keats, Fernando Lopez A middle-aged ex-con (Al Pacino) who is desperate  for love pursues a middle-aged waitress (Michelle Pfeiffer) who is wary of it.  Will they or won’t they?  This film has a lot of schmaltzy romance tropes that usually don’t wear well with me.  The non-threatening gay best friend.   The tight community of workers in a dead-end job who are just like a big old family.  Pacino’s persistent refusal to take no for an answer hasn’t aged well with the times.  Early on, I found myself doing a lot of eye-rolling.  Somehow, though, it won me over and I absolutely loved it by the end.  Perhaps it was the wonderful performances by Pacino, Pfeiffer, and the terrific supporting cast.  Perhaps it was some invisible alchemy by veteran director Garry Marshall.  Whatever it was, I have to admit tha