Travis Simpkins: Theft

Showing posts with label Theft. Show all posts

Friday, November 23, 2018

After the Sunset (2004): Salma Hayek and Pierce Brosnan

Directed by Brett Ratner, and gorgeously filmed in the Bahamas, After the Sunset (2004) was generally greeted with negative reviews. The story about a supposedly retired jewel thief's last larcenous conquest is Okay, but not great. The real reason After the Sunset was made, however, was to showcase the beauty of Salma Hayek, who looks absolutely ravishing... radiant in a series of scenes, set against a sultry tropical backdrop. The supporting cast is good as well, including Pierce Brosnan, Woody Harrelson and Don Cheadle.

After the Sunset. 2004: Salma Hayek

"After the Sunset"- movie trailer

Saturday, October 20, 2018

Charade (1963): Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant

Produced and directed by Stanley Donen, Charade (1963) is a superb film that is often referred to as "the best Hitchcock movie that Hitchcock never made." Full of mystery, suspense, witty exchanges, screwball banter, beautiful Paris cinematography, a memorable Henry Mancini soundtrack and intrigue, the film has it all. The story concerns a recent widow and the trouble her dead husband left her, with a group of men out to get her and the $250,000 they think she is hiding. Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant are perfect in the lead roles, with great chemistry and sparkling dialogue. The supporting cast is great as well, including Walter Matthau, James Coburn and George Kennedy. Due to a copyright mistake, Charade entered the public domain upon it's release, so numerous different prints of varying quality exist.

Charade. 1963

Charade. 1963: Audrey Hepburn

Charade. 1963: Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn

Charade. 1963: Audrey Hepburn

Charade. 1963: Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn

Charade. 1963: Audrey Hepburn

Charade. 1963: Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn

Charade. 1963: Audrey Hepburn

Charade. 1963: Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn

"Charade"- movie trailer

Saturday, August 19, 2017

Flawless (2007): Demi Moore, Michael Caine and a Huge Diamond Heist

Directed by Michael Radford, Flawless (2007) is an admirable Heist film that went largely unappreciated upon it's limited release. The story concerns a female executive at the London Diamond Corporation in the early 1960's, who conspires with the building's janitor to steal diamonds from the vault. Ingenious and entertaining, the film is certainly worthy of more attention. Michael Caine and Demi Moore both deliver great performances, powerful and elegant.

Demi Moore: Flawless

Michael Caine: Flawless

: Flawless

Michael Caine and Demi Moore: Flawless

Demi Moore: Flawless

Michael Caine: Flawless

Demi Moore: Flawless

"Flawless"- movie trailer

The Lavender Hill Mob (1951): Alec Guinness, Audrey Hepburn and a Heist

Directed by Charles Crichton, The Lavender Hill Mob (1951) ranks amongst the best British comedies of the 1950's and is a stellar Caper film. The story focuses on a straight-arrow bank employee who carefully plans the perfect robbery of gold from his armored truck, and the trouble that ensues when things slip up. Alec Guinness is excellent in the lead role. Stanley Holloway is superb as his partner. The film is also notable because it marks early brief film appearances by Audrey Hepburn and Robert Shaw.

Audrey Hepburn: The Lavender Hill Mob

: The Lavender Hill Mob

"The Lavender Hill Mob"- movie trailer

Sunday, May 21, 2017

"The Lost Island" by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child

The Lost Island

by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child

Grand Central Publishing, 2014

Notes by Travis Simpkins

Part of their "Gideon Crew" series of novels, The Lost Island by Preston & Child in a fast paced and truly enveloping adventure that is hard to put down once begun. Tense action and unexpected turns keep the story interesting throughout it's 355 pages.

Master thief Gideon Crew is hired to steal a page from the priceless 9th Century illuminated manuscript, the Book of Kells, while it is on display at the Morgan Library. Once obtained, his employer reveals that a secret map is hidden beneath the page's decoration… a map that leads to an ancient cure-all that would be of invaluable benefit to all of humanity. Paired with a feisty partner, Amy, Gideon follows the map through treacherous seas to a remote island in the Caribbean where the two find that the fanciful events written about by Homer in The Odyssey may be based in fact.

To reveal more of the surprises contained within the plot would be a disservice to the book. The clever masterwork of these two authors illustrates the type of path more blockbuster mystery novels should take… that of an intelligent yet entertaining historically-themed thriller.