A Year Of Giveaways: West Coast Blues
49 Comments | Posted: January 4th, 2010 | Filed under: Contests
Jacques Tardi existential comic noir adaptation of Jean-Patrick Manchette’s novel confounds expectations with thoughtful storytelling that manages to avoid clichés even as it explores familiar tropes. Tardi’s work has earned him the rightful status of a legend in his native France and this is a great introduction to his bold, organic artwork and unconventional narrative approach.
To win, just leave a comment with your favorite crime story, regardless of medium, before 12:01AM Eastern on Saturday, January 8, 2010. I’ll pick a winner using Random.org‘s random number generator!
Please note that this contest is only available for readers within the United States and Canada. One entry per person, please.
Jean-Pierre Melville’s “Le Samourai” (1967). Thank you for the contest!
Being my first introduction to non-superhero comics, Chew has a special place in my heart.
Richard Stark’s “The Jugger”. I know Westlake said this was the Parker book he was least fond of, but even without a heist at its core, it’s great. A fast paced read with Parker carefully trying to keep one of his aliases intact while events he doesn’t know about making that impossible.
Ed Brubaker’s “Criminal”. It really turned me on to crime fiction in general.
Just off the top of my head, how about Kiss Kiss Bang Bang starring Robert Downey, Jr., and Val Kilmer.
Elmore Leonard’s PAGAN BABIES. Leonard churns out consistently excellent crime novels, but PAGAN BABIES is cut above all the rest, tying together Rwanadan geocide, old school gangsters, and wanna-be stand-up comics turned criminals. And the ending is so perfect, it should be in a museum.
High and Low by Kurosawa. I love Kurosawa’s crime films, but this one just edges out The Bad Sleep Well on account of Mifune’s excellent, against-type performance as a tightly-wound upper-class businessman.
100 Bullets by Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso. I suppose the “Counterfifth Detective” storyline in paticular.
Depending on how you define “crime story” I’d put my favorites as ‘Rashomon’ (1950) and ‘The Pink Panther’ (1963).
Darwyn Cook’s adaptation of The Hunter is my new favorite, just edging out Chandler’s The Long Goodbye
Mine is Victor Gischler’s great and hilarious campus novel/crime novel mash-up THE PISTOL POETS.
Double Indemnity.
I’ll go ahead and say Raymond Chandler’s “The Long Goodbye”, even though I know I’ll think of another crime story I love even more after I post this. Thanks for the contest!
Dexter! Ha-ha. In all seriousness, I really like The Collecter by John Fowles and Patricia Highsmith’s Ripley series.
i just finished reading “the city & the city” by china mieville and i think it has jumped right to the top of my crime favorites list. closely following it is “fletch” by gregory mcdonald.
The Instant Enemy – Ross Macdonald
“Double Indemnity” – James M. Cain
John Huston’s “The Maltese Falcon.” I love it more every time I watch it. Bogart, Lorre, Greenstreet, Elisha Cook, Jr. I can even almost stand Mary Astor…
The entirety of The Wire.
Also really like Shoot the Piano Player and Goodfellas as far as film, and 100 Bullets and Scalped for comics.
I’m old fashioned. Like Scott there, I prefer “Maltese Falcon”.
Although, Jen Banbury’s “Like a Hole in the Head” was the most entertaining crime novel I’ve ever read.
“The Big Sleep.”
Get Carter
“Headhunter” by Michael Slade. While I think Slade’s later book “Cutthroat” is a superior work, “Headhunter” was the first one so it has a special place in my heart. In my opinion, that twist ending still has not been surpassed.
“Strangers on a Train” I still panic when Bruno drops the lighter through the sewer grate, and then I realize I’ve just been put through one of the great sympathy reversals of all time. Again.
I know everyone knows “The Murder of Roger Ackroyd”, but when I read it for the first time, I was a kid, and I was blown away. Whenever I think of favorite mysteries, it’s the first thing that pops into my head. Even before Conan Doyle, and I LOVE Conan Doyle.
I think it’s got to be Stark’s “The Score.” There’s just such a musicality to robbing an entire town.
Season 1 of Veronica Mars.
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and Leverage the tv show being two I just watched recently and thus stick in my memory the most.
Point Blank. Point Blank forever.
Hate to be a “me-too”, but any of Westlake/Stark’s Parker novels are the pinnacle for me. And I don’t think anybody has come close to capturing Parker’s world quite like Darwyn Cooke did with The Hunter. I’m actually afraid to re-read it because my first impression was so strongly positive that I might be disappointed.
I think my favorite crime story might be Miller’s Crossing. Or Raising Arizona. Hard to say.
My favorite crime stories have got to be
“Paid in Full” by Eric B and Rakim, Roman Polanski’s “Chinatown” and “Pimp” by Iceberg Slim.
The Name of the Game is Death
by Dan J. Marlowe.
can’t decide on one so i’m going to hit you with two. both by carl hiaasen.
sick puppy: a manic environmental activist with no sense of proportion, pitted against a crooked florida lobbyist (is there any other kind?) with an inflated sense of self. add to that canned hunting in theme park zoos, twin russian prostitutes with a taste for rhino horn, and a labrador retriever.
and skin tight: thugs, mobsters, and “geraldo” and their inept plastic surgeon. there’s some crime in there too. (someone gets killed with a stuffed marlin on page three!!!)
i want that tardi book…
The Good, The Bad and The Ugly by Sergio Leone.
my favorite? It has to be the ongoing saga of crime inside the series: Scalped by Jason Aaron
for a novel Mo Hayder’s The Treatment
Graphic novels – I love all Rick Geary’s Victorian Crime series
Jules Dassin’s RIFIFI if I have to name just one. But it’s sooooo hard to do.
I’m going to second Veronica Mars season 1. Just a masterpiece of serial drama.
James Ellroy’s “White Jazz”
My favorite crime story!?! Easy, Twin Peaks!
The entire series of The Wire
At this moment, The Departed ( I know it’s a remake, but still amazing)
Tarantino’s “Pulp Fiction.” It’s the best I could come up with!
So many options, yet can’t go wrong with a classic: “The Big Sleep” with Bogie and Bacall.
Pushing Daisies
There are so many great ones. James Ellroy’s “Blood’s a Rover” deserves a spot. The first time I read “The Big Sleep”, I got halfway through it before I realized it was written in 1938. So far ahead of its time. Charlie Huston’s novels are the noir of the now. Great stuff.
Comics-wise– Criminal, Scalped, and 100 Bullets are breaking the old ground like a jackhammer.
Get Carter. Meanest, coldest, best.
Aaaand that’s the last entry! I’ll announce the winner on Monday, along with the next prize that is, frankly, better than any of you deserve.