The Onion Field by Joseph Wambaugh (from 1973)

I greatly enjoy Joseph Wambaugh's work, but his non-fiction books hit me a lot harder than his fiction.  Truthfully, my favorite fiction novels by this cop-turned-author are titles like The Choirboys and The New Centurions, books which seem to be a bit more authentic than some of his more robust offerings.  It's not that he doesn't write well, and I can see where his more entertaining yarns could represent a much-needed departure from the darker territory he tends to cover in his efforts to chronicle actual events.  Yet there's a potency to his non-fiction that cannot be equaled.  I'm being 100% sincere when I say that I can't imagine any author from any era writing a better account of a crime or the efforts of the police to combat the lesser elements of our society.  His impeccable research, his keen understanding of human nature, and his ability to present such tales from all angles are all downright inspiring.  Few writers can tell such stories with Wambaugh's amazing attention to detail without bogging the prose down.  Like Fire Lover, The Blooding, or my personal favorite, Lines and Shadows, The Onion Field is never anything less than riveting even as it digs deeper and deeper into a sadistic crime and the incredibly complicated trials that followed.  At once a deeply personal tale of loss and guilt, it also stands as a powerful rebuke of the legal process.  Those who feel that the courts are far more interested in the rights and the welfare of criminals will only be further embittered by this haunting tale of a fine system gone mad.  A noble cop is killed in cold blood and the guilt of the responsible parties is never in doubt, yet the efforts of the defense to prolong and even sabotage the ensuing trials transform a burning quest for justice into a genuine fiasco.  Sadly, there are moments when the courtroom proceedings become so absurd that the passages wherein the author details those shenanigans wind up being somewhat comical.  The Onion Field has it all: a wealth of drama, powerful characterizations, and a heartbreaking combination of destiny and tragedy.  It is a remarkable piece of writing that is ripe with emotion and will leave readers asking difficult questions and pondering monumental issues.

Final Grade: A+

Short Attention Span Review: Mother Lode (1982)

Mother Lode isn't one of Charlton Heston's most popular movies, but it is a picture that I have always enjoyed.  Man's lust for gold sets the stage for deception, mystery, and murder in this adventure with ample doses of suspense and intrigue.  The locations are gorgeous, the film benefits from some wonderful cinematography, and the acting is solid across the board.  Heston kills it, but that's obvious, right?  After all, we're talking about Charlton Heston.  Nick Mancuso did a fine job with his role and Kim Basinger was obviously on her way to stardom.  There are some creepy moments and a wealth of tension, and the atmosphere is a major strength for Mother Lode.  The wide shots of the aptly-named Lake Lovely Waters and the equally stirring Fraser River Valley in British Columbia are marvelous to behold and contrast nicely with the claustrophobic interior shots within the mine that is so essential to the film.  Heston's cozy/creepy cabin is also a nice touch.  Additionally, Mother Lode is well-plotted, with the spine-tingling opening scene setting the hook well and allowing the picture to slowly build until things really get going in a riveting third act.  The conclusion that follows is satisfying and there honestly isn't much to complain about so far as this peculiar movie from 1982 is concerned.  It didn't receive a wide release in the U.S. and maybe that's why it flew so low under the radar and remains undiscovered by so many viewers.  Rest assured, Mother Lode isn't cinematic gold, but it is a good movie bolstered by an impressive performance courtesy of one of the finest actors ever to grace the screen.

Final Grade: B-

"Whoops!  My bad."

Trivia:
One of the cooler sequences in Mother Lode involves a plane crash that wasn't scripted.  The pilot really fouled up his water landing and the filmmakers incorporated the ensuing chaos into the film.

"Get your hands off of my gold, you damn dirty ape!"

Short Attention Span Review: Pain & Gain (2013)

Let's get this out of the way before we go any further: this movie is based on a true story, and the only thing more twisted than what really happened is the idea of turning that story into a comedy.  Stranger still, it's directed by Michael Bay doing all of his usual Michael Bay shit.  Yes, that means a lot of slo-mo and an abundance of classic rock propping us this sicko true crime story.  There were so many times during the movie that I couldn't help but wonder "Is it wrong to laugh at this stuff?"  Honestly, I'm pretty sure it was--but the movie kept making me laugh.  Is it great?  Lord no.  It's not even close.  In fact, it's pretty damn average, mainly because it's definitely too long and all of the primary characters are amusing but impossible to root for.  The movie is centered on Mark Wahlberg's character, and he does a fine job with the most difficult part.  Anthony Mackie was also really good in his role, but if there's one reason to see this, it's the Rock.  No one has ever done a better job of playing a reformed con/cokehead with a Jesus jones as he slips back into a life a crime and rampant abuse of the powerful drug (if you don't believe me, just ask Rick James) that is cocaine, all while clinging to his Jesus jones.  Virtually all of the movie's biggest laughs and better sequences are a result of the Rock flexing his acting muscles, and while I can't recommend this movie wholeheartedly, I would love to see him do something in a similar vein. 

Final Grade: C

Final Grade for the Rock's Performance: A+