Bisbee, Arizona

I am reading Hombre by Elmore Leonard at the moment, the first western novel I ever read, I think. They made a movie adaptation, which I never saw. Anyway, in the novel they mention the town of Bisbee, Arizona. Its Wikipedia entry says it's a city, but it really is a town. Funny coincidence, I recently watched (again) L.A. Confidential, which mentions Bisbee as well, since this is where Lynn Bracken, the Veronica Lake lookalike character of Kim Basinger, is from. So... Well, so nothing. I just found it funny, this obscure town (no offense for the people living there), being mentioned in one of the most acclaimed movies of the 90s. It made me curious about it. From what I found on its website, it looks quite pretty. If I ever go to Arizona, I might visit it.

Wheel of Fortune (Kay Starr)

I am re watching L.A. Confidential. And since then I have a song in the head, performed by Kay Starr. It is Wheel of Fortune, which you can hear in this sequence. I love the soundtrack of the movie. This song reminds me of another one, a much older one. You don't need to be a gambler to understand the fleeting nature of luck and the expectation you have about it. I upload it here for the lyrics and because I very rarely upload jazz on this blog.

I love a good noir

I am not reading a crime fiction novel at the moment and it came to my mind that, whatever I was saying recently about reading more heavy literature, that I miss reading a good crime book. After The Plague, I will probably read some noir fiction. Of course my mod can change since then, but noir is perfect for a hot summery day, it contrasts beautifully with the weather. I got some Jean-Patrick Manchette and Tardi comic book from the library to keep me company here until I read a novel. Whichever the medium, the French know how to do noir.

I recently rewatched L.A. Confidential, which is maybe my favourite movie of the 90s. A great film noir, or neo-noir as they sometimes say. It is always a pleasure to watch it. I have never been to Los Angeles, I almost don't want to go, to avoid being disappointed. It cannot be as haunting as it is in the film. I thought about putting the theme here, from the late Jerry Goldsmith. Just because it has a nice beat to it.

JFK

Holly's blog entry reminded me that today is the day of Kennedy's assassination (and I have a good excuse for forgetting, as you will see tomorrow). For people of my age, itt was the 9/11 of our parents's generation. A lot of people of my age have known the story through Oliver Stone's movie, which I never liked. I much prefer the James Ellroy version of the murder, that he related in American Tabloid and The Cold Six Thousand. Just as fictitious as Oliver Stone's paranoid fantasy, but to my taste much more believable.

On a side note, you can find here a fascinating website about Kennedy and his murder, which I visit from time to time around the 22nd of November.