Hey, everyone. "Moriarty" here with some Rumblings From The Lab.
You know Capone, right? Our main man in Chicago? Well, you’re about to get an opportunity to know him even better. I’ll let him explain, but first, I want to give equal time to Dreamworks, who take a couple of hits in the piece below. I had a talk with Michael Vollman, one of head honchos of Dreamworks Publicity last week, and he told me quite emphatically that the studio is very proud to be releasing the adaptation of the graphic novel by Max Allen Collins, and equally proud to be rereleasing the graphic novel itself. I will admit, I was quite surprised over the weekend to find a novelization of the film, written by Max Allen Collins based on the screenplay by David Self based on the graphic novel by Max Allen Collins. Surprised and dizzy. Anyway... here’s Capone:
Hey Harry. Capone in Chicago here with big, big news on some goings on in the Windy City. On June 25, there’s going to be a star-studded premiere of the long-awaited ROAD TO PERDITION with Tom Hanks and Sam Mendes supposedly in attendance. But even more importantly, the man who created the graphic novel source material for PERDITION will be hiding in the shadows getting his first look at the film. That’s right Max Allen Collins will be there (although apparently he won’t be a big part of the official press junket that comes with this movie). I’m not even sure I’m invited to this thing just yet (Hello, Dreamworks publicity machine!!! Please find me!!! I know I weaseled into your test screening last April and illegally reviewed it, but I gave it glowing marks (and not just because it was set in and around Chicago and featured the unseen but much-feared character of a certain Mr. Al Capone). I’m dying to see this film again.
And while this news would be a big deal any other day of the week, the bigger and better news is that Max Allen Collins and I will be appearing later that week--SUNDAY, JUNE 30 at 2 P.M.--at the Evanston Public Library, 1703 Orrington in Evanston, IL to talk about the movie and Max’s many other projects, including his novelization of PERDITION and other big Hollywood movies, his original (and recently re-released) PERDITION graphic novel, his detective novels (including his most recent Nate Heller tale, “Chicago Confidential”), his film career as a director, whatever you want to talk about. And you heard right, I’m coming out of the witness protection program just long enough to hang with Max and answer any questions from Ain’t It Cool fans. I’m really there to talk about the movie, but I’ll take questions about any ol’ thing. Please no questions about what it’s like to be cradled in Harry’s manly arms; that’s a part of my life I don’t like to revisit. But this is my first big-time public appearance (without bodyguards) as a representative of this fine web site, and I’m excited to meet all of you. Thanks to the good folks at the library and at Something Wicked book store, one of the coolest alternative book shops in the Chicago area, for allowing me to be a part of this historic afternoon.
This event is 100 percent free, and I believe Max will be signing copies of whatever you put in front of him. Come on all you Chicago city dwellers: Evanston is a 30-minute ‘eL’ ride from downtown, and the library is really easy to find, just a few blocks east of the Davis Street station. Come and support Max Collins even if certain big-time studios aren’t giving him the credit he’s due. I’ve had regular correspondences with him since I reviewed the film including this one, and he’s a great guy who has a lot to say about just about everything.
I’ll see all of you on June 30.
When you see me at the book signing, I want you to feel free to touch me in inappropriate ways. If being groped by random readers is wrong, then I DON’T WANNA BE RIGHT!!
