Category: Entertainment

Boston Blue

On By Author Edmond GagnonIn EntertainmentLeave a comment

Good news Blue Bloods fans! Executive producers Jerry Bruckheimer and Donnie Wahlberg have teamed up to bring us Boston Blue, a spin-off to carry on the Reagan family tradition. The pilot opens with Sean Reagan as a cop in Boston, who gets injured while running into a working fire. His father, Danny Reagan, visits him in the hospital and inserts himself into the investigation.

Sean is played by a new actor but another Reagan makes an appearance, as well as Danny’s New York partner (look for the love connection). The rest of the cast is new but similar to the Reagan clan, with family members in policing and the DA’s office. It’s hinted from the start that Danny Reagan is in Boston to stay, where he can keep an eye on his son.

The story is filmed on location in Toronto and Boston, and from what I’ve seen, promises to be a continuation of the Blue Bloods legacy. Call is Boston Blue Bloods if you will.

It’s on CBS but we’re steaming it on Paramount +

Bruce Springsteen – Deliver Me From Nowhere

On By Author Edmond GagnonIn EntertainmentLeave a comment

If you’re expecting a movie full of musical action and a cross selection of Springsteen songs to see and hear on the big screen, don’t bother. Wait to stream it. This film is more about how the Boss battled with his demons – an alcoholic father and his own ongoing depression. In my opinion, the back story made the whole movie slow and depressing.

On the upside, Jeremy Allen White gives the performance of his life – not only mimicking Springsteen’s mood and mannerisms but he kick’s ass when singing his songs. His rendition of Born in the USA actually gave me goosebumps. It was the highlight of the movie, for me.

Bruce is a talented songwriter and performer, and even though his unorthodox recording of the Nebraska album wasn’t accepted by record producers, he held fast and demanded the vinyl be released with no media fanfare, tour, or even his picture on the cover.

The flick was a bit deep and dark for me but Cathryn enjoyed it. There should have been more music. She gave it an 8 out of 10. I’m giving it a 6 but a 10 for White’s performance.

Support Your Local Authors

On By Author Edmond GagnonIn Book Reviews, EntertainmentLeave a comment

In this day and age of Elbows Up and buy Canadian, please consider supporting your local authors. There are at least a hundred in Southwestern Ontario that I know of and probably another hundred or so that I don’t. I’ve met several of these writers over the years and am amazed at the talented people that surround us.

Many of us can be found on giant websites or bookstores such as Amazon or Indigo but you can also find certain local authors in your neighbourhood bookstores like Biblioasis, Juniper, Riverbooks and StoryTellers.

We’ve recently added a new bookshelf at StoryTellers, stocked full with various titles from your local authors. It’s just inside the front door so be sure to check it out on your way into the store. Linda, the owner, can tell you about many of our books along with hundreds of other titles from other more famous authors she has in stock.

Please support your local author.

F1 – The Movie

On By Author Edmond GagnonIn EntertainmentLeave a comment

If you liked Days of Thunder or Top Gun, you’ll love F1-The Movie, starring Brad Pitt. And instead of an all-star ensemble, this action flick brings you the expertise of Joseph Kosinski in the director’s chair, Jerry Bruckheimer as producer and music by Hans Zimmer – yes, the same crew that puts together movies for Tom Cruise.

Actually, the two mega-stars raced go-carts together while filming Interview with a Vampire and they tried to make a racing movie years ago but it never got off the ground. And to top it off, Cruise showed up for the London premiere of Pitt’s F1, reuniting them for the first time in over 20 years.

Sylvester Stallone hoped to make an F1 movie back in 2001, with Driven, but couldn’t crack the secret F1 cult and had to settle on CART Racing. But Kosinski, Bruckheimer and Pitt spent 3 years pitching their idea to F1 racing officials before getting the nod. It’s said they clinched the deal by inviting the top executive to Top Gun Maverick to show the kind of movie they wanted to make.

Producers went so far as to gain actual F1 race footage and offer cameos to real F1 drivers, as well as hiring a champion F1 driver as producer. And Pitt not only practiced driving in a modified F2 car, he drove on some of those same tracks around the world. When interviewed he said he was humbled by the experience and it was one of the highlights of his life.

So, if you’re looking for high octane racing action with an awesome soundtrack, amazing cinematography and a good story, be sure to check out F1 – The Movie on the big screen. It was filmed in iMax.

Cathryn and I both loved the movie and rated it 10 out of 10.

Mission Impossible – The Final Reckoning

On By Author Edmond GagnonIn EntertainmentLeave a comment

Like no other actor has ever done, Tom Cruise greets viewers at the beginning of the film, saying that he and his crew have created the best cinematic viewing experience possible. He couldn’t be more right. He goes above and beyond with each of his movie’s cinematography, location, soundtrack and stunt work, solely for our enjoyment.

If you’re expecting a ho-hum part two for the latest MI installment, you’d be completely wrong. Buckle up for this one because Cruise takes it up another notch with heart-pounding chase scenes, underwater excitement, and aerial stunts never seen on film before. And the aging actor does many of these crazy stunts himself.

Although the plot is of the typical save the world type, it brilliantly uses flashbacks and even re-introduces characters from long-past MI movie instalments, to intricately weave together Ethan Hunt and his team’s accomplishments over the previous thirty years. Thinking each film had it’s own specific plot, I was blown away how they put it all together in the Final Reckoning.

As usual, the film locations and soundtrack are awesome. It was filmed in iMax and our only regret is not seeing it in an iMax theater. At three hours, the movie is a bit long but the action is almost non-stop, keeping you on the edge of your seat. Granted, Hunt saving the world can go over the top at times but the flick is still very entertaining.

Cathryn and I both rate The Final Reckoning 10 out of 10.

Quicksand – Murder Unresolved

On By Author Edmond GagnonIn Book Reviews, EntertainmentLeave a comment

My latest title in the Norm Strom Crime Series is officially being released. Quicksand – Murder Unresolved is a fictional story that was inspired by a local cold case from years past.

A young mother of two who is estranged from her husband, is struck down by a hit and run driver in broad daylight out front of her workplace. There are several witnesses to the incident but no one can identify the driver of the vehicle.

The first person of interest to police is one of Norm Strom’s co-workers who was dating Annie Gladstone just prior to the the incident. Her husband later becomes the main suspect but he is not arrested until several years later.

The story unfolds in the aftermath of the hit and run, chronicling details of the police investigation, court case, and how the Gladstone family has to relive the incident day by day and year after year.

Quicksand is now available online at Amazon or your favorite book retailer. Locally, you can find a signed copy at Storytellers Bookstore in Windsor or River Bookshop in Amherstburg. You can also visit my events page for Local Events where I’ll be personally signing copies of all my books.

Quicksand – Murder Unresolved

On By Author Edmond GagnonIn Book Reviews, EntertainmentLeave a comment

My latest Norm Strom Crime novel has just been released – available in eBook on Amazon NOW. The release in paperback there and on your other favorite book site is coming soon.

Quicksand is a fictional story of an unsolved local murder that occurred in a quiet lakefront village where Norm Strom resided before moving back to Windsor, Ontario. Annie Gladstone is run down in broad daylight by a hit and run driver who is never identified or arrested.

One of Strom’s co-workers, a fellow cop, was dating Annie and is questioned about the incident. Her estranged ex-husband quickly becomes a person of interest and later the main suspect. An arrest is made several years later and the Gladstone family relives the entire event in court.

The case is still open and the murder remains unresolved to this day.

Melaque Activity Guide

On By Author Edmond GagnonIn Entertainment, TravelLeave a comment

The one dozen activities listed are geared toward seniors who are looking for things to while spending the winter in Melaque, Mexico. You may want to check with your physician before attempting any of the things listed.

Build a Snowman
Go Offroading
Babysitting
Scuba Diving
Birdwatching
Street Sweeping
Shopping
Can Collecting
Pigeon Feeding
Day Drinking
Raise Chickens
Farming

*WARNING* – Side effects from any of these activities may cause or include: lack of breath, dizziness or nausea, sore muscles, profuse sweating, sunburn, weight loss, animal bites, drowning, drunkenness, and in severe cases – diarrhea, vomiting or even death.

Gladiator II

On By Author Edmond GagnonIn EntertainmentLeave a comment

Paul Mescal ain’t no Russel Crowe, but then again he is only the son of Maximus. He follows the same path in life…from soldier to slave to Gladiator. I’ve given away the obvious as the plot slowly reveals the plight of poor Lucius (son of Lucilla) after the death of his uncle, the Emperor, at the hand of Maximus in a final showdown in the colosseum.

CGI and special effects give us a good idea of what Rome looked like in it’s heyday and the story lets us know exactly how politically corrupt the onetime world power really was. As a tourist who’s visited Rome and a few other colosseum’s in Europe thinking they are magical places, witnessing what really went on there is an eye-opener.

While visiting the Roman Colosseum, I was told of how they channeled river water in to flood the floor and re-create mock naval battles. One scene in the movie does exactly that and it’s quite amazing to witness the ingenuity of the Roman people two thousand years ago.

Connie Nielsen returns as Lucilla and a good eye will catch and remember one of the Senate members who starred in the original. Denzel Washington adds a few plot twists while you try to figure out if he’s a good or bad guy.

Cathryn opted out of Gladiator II thinking it was too gory for her. She was right. I saw it instead with a buddy and we both thought the movie was very good. We gave it a 9 out of 10.