The Black Box

It is May 1992 in Los Angeles and the riot is in full swing.  Harry Bosch and partner Jerry Edgar are in the back of a squad car as they go from crime scene to crime scene.  There is not time for real investigations, just an opportunity to photograph the scene and collect any obvious evidence.  Perhaps the murders can be solved after the riot.  They arrive at an alley where National Guard troops have found the body of a Danish photographer.  Before they can do more than a cursory investigation and locate a single 9mm cartridge, they are called to another murder.

It is 2012 and Bosch is working Open Unsolved.  There has been a match on the cartridge he found 20 years before.  Multiple gang murders can be linked to the gun and Bosch learns of a gangbanger who is doing time in San Quentin for one of those murders.  He learns who gave him the gun and who he returned it to.  That man is dead and the gun hasn't been part of a crime since, as far as LAPD knows.  As Harry pursues the case, he finds roadblocks from his Lieutenant and even the Chief of Police.  It is nearly the 20 year anniversary of the LA Riots and it would look bad if the only crime solved was that of a white woman.  Despite a bogus investigation by Internal Affairs, Harry presses the case and even goes rogue to keep his momentum.

Definitely a good read but I must be getting too familiar with Connelly.  I picked out the twist in the opening and was a bit miffed that Harry didn't.  Recommended.

In the Heights (2021)

Usnavi is a bodega owner in Washington Heights with dreams of moving back to the Domincan Republic.  He has a crush on Vanessa, a hairstylist from Daniela's Salon, who has dreams of being a fashion designer.  His best friend is Benny, who works for Kevin Rosario's cab company.  Kevin's daughter, Nina, has just returned from her freshman year at Stanford.  She and Benny had a thing that may rekindle.  Claudia, an elderly woman from Cuba, has become the abuela (grandmother) to most of the youth on the block.  Sonny is a teenager who works for Usnavi.  There are other lesser characters, including Lin-Manuel Miranda's cameo as a street vendor.

Much like Hamilton, the majority of the story is told in song.  There is dialogue, but rapping is the driver of most of the action.  It is a singing, dancing extravaganza.  The characters can be charming but their 'problems' are often juvenile.  Usnavi is too shy to ask Vanessa on a date.  Nina doesn't have a Puerto Rican community to support her at Stanford.  Vanessa needs a cosigner to rent a place closer to the fashion district.  It is hard to get invested in the numerous little dreams of the plentiful characters.  It is very busy and, at nearly two and a half hours, quite long.  There are imbedded messages about racism, immigration, and gentrification.  This often came across as whining.  When Sonny turned out to be a Dreamer, it was just par for the course.  America is so unfair.  Nonetheless, every backstory about the 'old country' is always a much worse situation; America offered opportunity and employment, but a lot of focus goes to the negatives.  Wonderful.

Not being a fan of rap, this was mostly boring.  It drags on as every story is a foregone conclusion.  Well, Usnavi's story was a bit of a mystery on account of the framing, but it all turns out as the standard happy endings.  My favorite part of the movie was the revelation of Usnavi's naming; when his father migrated to America, he saw a ship and liked the name: US Navy.

If you are a Lin-Manuel Miranda fan or like rap, this might be for you.  Otherwise, skip.

To Catch a Thief (1955)

On the southern coast of France, someone is stealing jewelry from the wealthy and all eyes turn to John Robie (Cary Grant), a former jewel thief know as "The Cat."  Though Robie vehemently denies the thefts, no one believes him.  His former colleagues, who now have menial jobs, are certain he is guilty.  No help from them.  The police are determined to arrest him.  No help there.  He does find an ally in H. H. Hughson (John Williams), whose company had insured the stolen jewels and is suffering huge losses.  Hughson provides a list of potential targets and Robie plots a stakeout to uncover the real thief.  Along the way, he meets American millionaire Jessie Stevens (Jessie Royce Landis) and her beautiful daughter, Frances (Grace Kelly).  Can Robie uncover the true thief before he is sent to prison or killed?

The chemistry between Grant and Kelly is terrific.  The scenery is positively amazing and makes one want to travel to France.  The movie won an academy award for cinematography and I can see why.  This is the third of four collaborations between Hitchcock and Grant.  It is the third and final collaboration with Grace Kelly.  Highly recommended.