Serial Killer Sunday

I admit to having a certain fascination with serial killers, both actual and fictional, and so I've decided to indulge that interest in these pages on certain Sundays, and share it with you all. I just learned today that plans are under way to film The Devil in the White City, and to place Leonardo di Caprio in the leading role of H.H. Holmes. Rather karmic for me, having utilized Mr. Di Caprio's name in one of my stories - Leonardo di Caprio is a Vampire. My interest was doubly piqued as I was already familiar with the story of H.H. Holmes, so I'lll start with him as the first serial killer that I intend to look at.

H.H. Holmes was born Herman Webster Mudgett in 1861, moving from his native New Hampshire to Chicago, Illinois, to the suburb of Englewood. He became involved in a drug store there, and when the owner died, he ingratiated himself to his widow. She disappeared. He bought the lot across the street and built a boarding house. He was in the right place at the right time for the 1893 Exposition. Many people needed a place to stay, much as the visitors to the St. Louis World's Fair would in 1904, and it was not uncommon for people to rent out rooms in their houses.

The difference here was that H.H. Holmes had a very unusual house. And the people who stayed there were never seen alive again. He counted on their transience, and the fact that no one knew where they were to cover up his deeds. The house itself, known as the Murder House, was very unusual, his own design. Hallways that went nowhere, and secret entrances and compartments.




Besides being America's first serial killer, Holmes was also a bigamist, marrying women without benefit of divorcing the ones before.  I saw a fascinating film about him on Netflix,  This is filmmaker's John Borowski's site, containing a lot of information on Holmes as well as his film. It is well worth watching.

There is also a book, Devil in the White City, by Erik Larson, the one they're making into the film with  Leonardo di Caprio. I have yet to read it, but it's on my request list at the library, and is available at Amazon






I will keep you apprised regarding the film as I learn more about it, and will review the book after I read it.

Until next time, take care!

♥ Julie

Inception Review

The fluidity of time and the permeability of dreams is tested in the new fantasy/sci fi/high tech thriller Inception.

Synopsis:

Cobb (Leonardo di Caprio)  is a man who can't go home, no matter how much he wants to as his two small children are there,  so he is forced to take his peculiar talents on the road, and sell them to the highest bidder.  His current job can be counted a failure when he doesn't get what the Cobol Corporation wants him to steal from Saito (Ken Watababe), thanks to one of his team who sells him out.  But Saito has a counter proposition - despite the fact that he has been auditioning Cobb, he wants to have him use inception, rather than extraction - to implant an idea, not steal one.  Arthur (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) maintains it can't be done, but Cobb says it can, he's done it.

The new job involves implanting an idea into the mind of Robert Fischer (Cillian Murphy), whose father is about to kick the bucket, leaving him to inherit his fortune.  The idea is that he wishes to divest  himself of the holdings, break them up.  Cobb needs a new architect, after the defection/loss of the last one, so he approaches his father-in-law, Miles (Michael Caine), who leads him to Ariadne (Ellen Page).  Cobb reveals to her the concept of shared dreaming, and explains what it means to be an architect.  He recruits two more players for his team - forger Eames (Tom Hardy) and chemist Yusuf (Dileep Rao).  What he has in mind won't be easy, because it involves more than just a dream within a dream - it involves a dream within a dream within a dream, which means they will be under such heavy sedation that being wakened from the dream will not be so easy as to "die".  Rather, dying is highly undesirable, as it will throw the dreamer into an endless limbo from which exit may not be possible, or may take many years.  Mistakes are made, and problems encountered, including the appearance of Mrs. Cobb.  Ariadne determines just what a threat Cobb's late wife poses, but tells no one yet, as Cobb claims he has it all under control, but does he?  When one of the team is injured by trained opposition from the mind of Fischer, the job turns deadly - can it possibly turn out right?  And will Saito keep his word, will he make it possible for Cobb to be with his kids once more?

Commentary:

To put it simply - Inception rocks!. Christopher Nolan has done it again, with a fast-paced thoughtful film, which will keep you wondering and guessing throughout its more than two and a half hours as to what will happen.  You will forget which is the dream and which the reality, as you descend the various dream levels with the protagonists.  Cobb has definite issues, and the continual insertion of his late wife into the scenario does not bode well - she is trying to reclaim him to the life which they once had.  She is convinced that he is the delusional one, which of them is right?  Joseph Gordon-Levitt is picture perfect as Arthur, the Point Man, looking mighty good.  In fact, all the guys are looking great, and kudos to the wardrobe mistress for their wonderful suits.  Hans Zimmer's score is amazing - especially his use of the lower brass instruments during times of great suspense, just the right combination to tickle your nerves and keep you on the edge of your seat.  Fischer has issues with his dying father.  Will the implanting of this idea be a boon to him, or a disservice?  The film raises, and leaves unanswered, ethical questions about what this team is doing in their invasion of another man's mind and dreams simply because they are paid to do so?  The editing and cinematography are excellent!  I think my favorite scene has to be with Arthur and the elevator, and his ingenuity therein.  Also, the explanation of the "kick", which is demonstrated by repeatedly kicking the legs of Arthur's chair out from under him!   Having seen this film twice, I would gladly see it again.  Not too many films rate such repeat viewings, but this one does.