Holy Shit.
That was my first thought upon seeing the first hour. I never caught it on TV, but heard the buzz. I knew it would be worth checking out when Keith Snyder admitting to being hooked.
Well let me tell you, Holy Shit!

I'm on board for every episode.


Why oh why, for the love of God WHY do you put so much sticky plastic around my discs?
One sticker across the top with the name makes sense. Why do you need the estra two that say “Security Device enclosed”? It already has a wrapper all the way around it. Nobody is going to unwrap the whole thing and steal just the disc, they’ll find a way to take the whole package, so it’s not a theft deterent. It’s just annoying.

And then to piss me off more, the stickers have little grooves cut in them so it won’t tear off in one piece. It’s mean and spiteful. Don’t you love us? Think about how much money you make form all the discs we buy. Do we not make you happy?

So Please, stop with all the damn extra stickers on my Dvds.

Road House 2
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

What can I say about Road House 2 (starring Jonathon Schaech and Jake Busey, Gary’s kid. Directed by Scott Ziehl). It’s not as bad as I expected. It’s nicely photographed. Louisiana is pretty country. It’s a valentine to clichés. The acting is…nicely photographed.

The story’s pitiful and wildly unlikely: nobody did the math on Jake Buseys’ age so one doubts he was working as a bouncer 10 or 15 years ago when Dalton, the Patrick Swayze role in the original and the heroes father, was murdered.

The fight scenes are only slightly more realistic then your average Kung Fu film, with punches thrown at the hero that would have killed him if he were 7 or 8 feet tall.

The Director seems fascinated by the women using dirty words (the only one that cusses more is Busey) but it’s forced and jarring.

The fact that I started this by saying it was better than I expected should give you some idea how low my expectations were. Walk by this one. Avert your eyes. Use the time to trim your toenails, or someone else’s.

Lee Crawford

We’ve confirmed the line up for the second annual mystery day in Muskego (just ouside Milwaukee) for this November.

Tess Gerritson
David Morrell
John Connolly
Julia Spencer-Fleming
Libby Fischer Hellman
Blake Crouch
Nathan Singer
JA Konrath
Judy Clemons
Marshall Cook
John Galligan
Ben Leroy
Alsion Janssen

The Event will be Saturday November 11th starting at 10:00 am

A special signing will take place the night before at Mystery One Books in Milwaukee

For details, shoot me an email

This week is loaded with re-issues, some good some…well some that are .not quite my cup of tea. It is worth noting that you will, on occasion, notice non-crime titles listed here. These are simply titles that we feel are worth noting and might be enjoyed by our fellow members of the crime community.

July 18th
Adventures of Brisco County, Jr: The Complete Series Eight-disc set with 27
episodes, $99.98. Extras: “A Reading From the Book of Bruce,” “The History of Brisco County” making of documentary featuring Bruce Campbell and the show’s creators, “Tools of the Trade” interactive map that launches into mini- featurettes about the gadgets and props used in the show, “A Brisco County Writer’s Room” roundtable reunion/ discussion with the key writer/producers. (Warner).

Mr. Jordan has been waiting his entire life for this. There is some concern within the Crime
Spree family that with the release of Brisco County, Jon will be without purpose or focus. sort of like a child the day after Christmas. There will be a….I don’t think review would be an apt description, there will be a love letter on Brisco forthcoming.

The Film Noir Classics Collection: Volume 3 All new to DVD and all digitally remastered: “Border Incident,” “His Kind of Woman,” “Lady in the Lake,” “On Dangerous Ground” and “The Racket.” Available exclusively with the set will be a bonus documentary, “Film Noir: Bringing Darkness to Light”– a vital companion piece that contains an elucidating overview, complete with clips and expert commentary – and “Vintage Shorts”: “Women in Hiding,” “You, the People,” “Forbidden Passage” and “A Gun in his Hand.” The six-disc collection will be sold as a set only for $49.92. (Warner).
· Border Incident (1949) Dir.: Anthony Mann; Ricardo Montalban, George Murphy, Howard Da Silva, James Mitchell. Extras: Commentary by film historian Dana Polan, trailer.
· His Kind of Woman (1951) Robert Mitchum, Jane Russell, Vincent Price, Tim Holt, Charles McGraw, Marjorie Reynolds, Raymond Burr, Jim Back. Extras: Commentary by film historian Vivian Sobchack.
· Lady in the Lake (1947) Dir.: Robert Montgomery; Robert Montgomery, Audrey Totter, Lloyd Nolan, Tom Tully, Leon Ames, Jayne Meadows. Extras: Commentary by film historians Alain Silver and James Ursini , trailer.
· On Dangerous Ground (1952) Dir.: Nicholas Ray; Ida Lupino, Robert Ryan, Ward Bond, Charles Kemper, Ed Begley. Extras: Commentary by film historian Glenn Erickson, trailer.
· The Racket (1951) Robert Mitchum, Lizabeth Scott, Robert Ryan, William Talman. Ray Collins Extras: Commentary by film historian Eddie Mueller, trailer.

This collection of restored Noir classics features Robert Mitchum, Jane Russell, Robert Mongomery and Ricardo Montalban. Yes, Mr. Montalban had a career prior to Fantasy Island. Each film features commentary from a noted film historian. The Racket features acclaimed crime writer Eddie Mueller. A complete review is forthcoming.

The Prentender Season 4 $39.98 Extras: Commentaries on selected episodes by Craig Van Sickle, Ethan Lawrence, Steven Long Mitchell, Tommy Thompson, Andrea Parker, Michael T. Weiss and Carlos Coto, Featurettes: Farewell The Pretender, Jarod’s Mythology Part 1, Jarod’s Mythology Part 2, Looking for Chip Greenfelt. (Fox)

Road House: Deluxe Edition (1989) Patrick Swayze, Kelly Lynch, Sam Elliott, Ben Gazzara. Extras: Commentary by Swayze, “What Would Dalton Do” featurette, deleted scenes, trivia track. (Sony).
The Patrick Swayze “classic” about a rough, tough poetic bouncer. Over the years, it has become a bit of a cult classic. Whether or not you enjoy the film depends on whether or not you enjoy Patrick Swayze.

Road House 2: Last Call (2006) Johnathon Schaech, Will Patton. (Sony).
A sequel to the Swayze film.
Not sure if this ever actually made it to the theatres. Actually, I am not sure why it was even made.

Some Like It Hot: Collectors Edition (1959) Dir.: Billy Wilder; Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon, George Raft, Pat O’Brien, Two-disc set. Extras: Eight-page collectible booklet, collectible postcards, commentary featuring interviews with Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon and more, new documentary: “The Making of Some Like It Hot,” new documentary: “The Legacy of Some Like It Hot,” “Nostalgic Look Back With Tony Curtis,” “Memories of the Sweet Sues” all-girl band featurette, “Virtual Hall of Memories,” original press book gallery. (Sony).
One of the all time great comedies, actually considered by many to be the greatest, SLIH features Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis at their very best along with Marilyn Monroe for sex appeal. Legendary Director Billy Wilder puts a pair of great actors in women’s clothes and hilarity ensues.

Warner Bros. Pictures Tough Guys Collection All new to DVD, six-disc set with “Bullets or Ballots,” “Each Dawn I Die,” “‘G’ Men,” “San Quentin,” “A Slight Case of Murder” and “City for Conquest.” All six titles have been fully restored and digitally remastered with special features including historian commentaries and new making-of featurettes. Each disc also contains an exclusive “Warner Night at the Movies” segment that recreates moviegoer attractions such as newsreels, comedy shorts, cartoons and trailers from the years each film was released. The collection will be available for $67.92; each title is also available separately for $19.97. (Warner).
· Bullets or Ballots (1936) Edward G. Robinson, Joan Blondell, Barton MacLane, Humphrey Bogart. Extras: New featurette “Gangsters: The No. 10: Trouble Shots,” “Breakdowns of 1936″: studio blooper reel, audio-only bonus: 4/16/1939 Lux Radio Theater broadcast with Edward G. Robinson and Humphrey Bogart, “Warner Night at the Movies” 1936 short subjects gallery: vintage newsreel, vintage short “George Hall and His Orchestra,” classic cartoon” I’m a Big Shot Now,” trailer “The Charge of the Light Brigade.”
· Each Dawn I Die (1939) James Cagney, George Raft, Jane Bryan, George Bancroft, Max ‘Slapsie Maxie’ Rosenbloom. Extras: New featurette “Stool Pigeons and Pine Overcoats: The Language of Gangster Films,” commentary by film historian Haden Guest, “Breakdowns of 1939″: studio blooper reel, bonus cartoon “Each Dawn I Crow,” 3/22/43 Lux Radio Theater broadcast, trailer, “Warner Night at the Movies” 1939 short subjects gallery: documentary short “A Day at Santa Anita,” classic cartoon “Detouring America,” trailer “Wings of the Navy.”
· ‘G’ Men (1935) James Cagney, Margaret Lindsay, Ann Dvorak, Robert Armstrong, Barton MacLane, Lloyd Nolan. Extras: New featurette “Morality and the Code: A How-to Manual for Hollywood,” commentary by Richard Jewell, “How I Play Golf by Bobby Jones No. 11: Practice Shots,” “Things You Never See on the Screen: Breakdowns of 1935″ studio blooper reel, trailer, “Warner Night at the Movies” 1935 short subjects gallery: comedy short “The Old Grey Mayor” starring Bob Hope, classic cartoon “Buddy the Gee Man,” trailer “Devil Dogs of the Air.”
· San Quentin (1937) Pat O’Brien, Humphrey Bogart, Ann Sheridan, Barton MacLane .Extras: New featurette “Welcome to the Big House,” commentary by Patricia King Hanson, “Breakdowns of 1937″ studio blooper reel, trailer, “Warner Night at the Movies” 1937 short subjects gallery: vintage newsreel, “Broadway Brevity” short “The Man Without a Country,” classic cartoon “Porky’s Double Trouble,” “Kid Galahad” trailer.
· A Slight Case of Murder (1937) Edward G. Robinson. Jane Bryan, Allen Jenkins, Ruth Donnelly. Extras: New featurette “Prohibition Opens the Floodgates,” trailer, “Warner Night at the Movies” 1938 short subjects gallery: vintage newsreel, drama short “Declaration of Independence,” classic cartoon “The Night Watchman,” “The Dawn Patrol” trailer.
· City for Conquest (1940) Dir.: Anatole Litvak; James Cagney, Ann Sheridan, Frank Craven, Donald Crisp, Frank McHugh, Arthur Kennedy, George Tobias, Jerome Cowan, Elia Kazan, Anthony Quinn, Lee Patrick. Extras: New featurette “Molls and Dolls: The Women of Gangster Films,” “Breakdowns of 1940″ studio blooper reel, audio-only bonus: 2/9/1942 Lux Radio Theater broadcast, commentary by Richard Schickel, trailer, “Warner Night at the Movies” 1940 short subjects gallery: vintage newsreel, short “Service With the Colors,” classic cartoon “Stage Fright,” trailer “The Fighting 69th.”

A treasure trove of old flicks. This collection also is loaded with extras. We get vintage newsreels, cartoons and other bits that were shown with the film at the time of it’s theatrical release. A must have for fans of old cinema.

Jeremy Lynch

Black Hawk Down (Extended cut)
Sony Home Video

“Brilliantly funny!” “a rip-roaring laugh riot!” “Should be made into a Broadway musical!” “Tom Sizemore and Orlando Bloom are the best comedy duo since Hope & Crosby! What a team!” are phrases you will NOT hear in describing Black Hawk Down.

Phrases you WILL hear include: “Holy Sh** monkeys, was that f***ing intense.” And “Man! I nearly wet my pants!” and possibly “How did Tom Sizemore stay clean &/or sober that long!?” I am, of course, kidding. He didn’t stay sober. HA! I am kidding again! Tom and I like to kid each other! (The editors would like to note any opinions expressed here are solely the opinion of Randy Otteson, and not the editors. We wish to avoid being sued or in case we meet Mr. Sizemore at a party, we don’t want him to kick the crap out of us. P.S. we are pretty sure Randy doesn’t know Mr. Sizemore).

Based on the true story of when in the early 90′s The United States tried to kidnap the higher ups of a vicious War Lord who was starving the people of Mogadishu. The mission has a few glitches and the troops that were only suppose to be in the “Hot Zone” for 30 minutes end up having to stay there for a full day and night. The “glitches” being the shooting down of two Black Hawk helicopters and the subsequent rescue attempts.

Director Ridley Scott (Gladiator, Alien) masterfully puts you in the middle of the battle and you find out what is like to be in a 24 hour non-stop firefight from all sides, bullets flying from every direction from men, women and children as well. If you have ever seen Casualties of War, set during the Vietnam War, Sean Penn says to Michael J. Fox (Yes, they were in a movie together) after a particlar battle that seemed to come out of no-where, and last no more than a few seconds “Mad f***in’ minute. Huh, Cherry?” I feel that way through the entire movie Black hawk Down.

The cast is loaded with actors that would soon become household names: Josh Hartnett, Orlando Bloom, Eric Bana, Ewan McGregor, Jeremy Piven, as well as established actors like Tom Sizemore and Sam Sheppard.
He also got together a good cast of known and unknown actors, some (at the time) soon-to-be well known actors and more than a few “Where do I know that guy from” actors.

They include:

Josh Hartnett (Pearl Harbor, Lucky Number Sleven)
Ewan McGregor (Star Wars 1-3, Down with Love)
Jason Isaacs (Harry Potter films, The Patriot)
Tom Sizemore (Saving Private Ryan, Pearl Harbor)
William Fichtner (The Perfect Storm, Contact)
Eric Bana (The Incredible Hulk, Munich)
Sam Shepard (The Right Stuff, Steel Magnolias)
Ron Eldard (ER, Freedomland)
Steven Ford (Heat, Contact [also Gerald's son])
Orlando Bloom (The Lord of the Rings, Pirates of the Caribbean films)
Jeremy Piven (Chasing Liberty, Runaway Jury)

“Extended Cut” Refers to a few extra scenes that were cut out of the original (Probably due to length), that are restored for this release. The extra scenes do not add a “Whole new depth” to the movie, but are interesting for the film’s fans. It also comes with a Frontline special on the real event. Frontline, for those who don’t know (which I didn’t), is PBS’s long running “60 Minutes” or “48 Hours” type of news program. Frontline has been on TV since 1983, apparently I have been living in a cave (A cave that doesn’t get PBS). The piece is very interesting for those who want to know more about why we where there, why we left, and why we had to sit on our hands and watch the brutality that went on. By “we” I of course mean our military. The closest I have been to combat, is talking too loud during bingo at a retirement home (I still have the scars, emotional as well as physical. NEVER mess with old people and bingo….NEVER! I can’t talk about it anymore; I can feel the tears welling again).

Randy Otteson

When I was a younger man I could eat mass quantities of Pizza, I’m talking about order three large with my brother and finishing all of it.

Now I’m a bit older and I find that while I want to keep eating, I can’t….. I filled up about half way through one pizza.

I don’t think I’m going to handle this getting older thing very gracefully.

Buy THE BLOOD DRIVE COLLECTION

From Koch Entertainment

Ian McShane stars in this british made series baedon Dick Francis’ books. This set includes McShane as jockey club investigator David Cleveland in IN THE FRAME, BLOOD SPORT, and TWICE SHY.

McShane is wonderful in this role as an investigtor who knows how to handle himself. The stories are intelligent and written for people who don’t mind thinking a little as they watch TV.

The first episode opens with a house exploding killing a woman inside, David’s friend is a suspect and he pitches in to help clear him. When his friend and the friend’s business partner find thier homes have been emptied of all possesions the case takes a different slant. Cleveland follows the case to Germany to track down the people behind the killing and the theft.

In Blood Sport the case is a not so simple horse thrft. The insurance company is ready to pay out, but the owner thinks the horse is still alive and wants him back. Enter David Clevland on a trip to the Canadian Rockies to track down the thieves.

Twice Shy opens with a murdr of a computer wiz who is killed rock climbing. Things start to get muddled as Clveland discovers the real motive for the killing.

Ian McShane is great in this role, and fans of his work as Lovejoy will really love it. And at almost 5 hours, this is a lot of viewing for the buck. Filled with twists and surprises this si a set for any fan of British mysteries.

The Next ten people to subscribe to Crimespree online get an extra issue free.
That’s 7 issues instead of 6, $42 worth of magazines for $26 US, $36 outside the US.

If you are one of the first ten I’ll notify you by email.

I’m also gong to give away a free book to two of the next 20 subscribers, to be picked at random.

Subscribe to Crimespree here