WILLIS GORDON: A SCRIBE YOU NEED TO KNOW

Willis from Brad Heaton on Vimeo. If you don't know bourbon-soaked scribe Willis Gordon, it's about time you did. I've had the pleasure of being in his company as an Revolutionary Voice over at Adam Schirling's Drunken Absurdity, the underground (and underrated) sanctuary and asylum for writers and poets. Upon reading perusing his work, I became interested in his voice almost immediately. What can be said about the charismatic author that the...

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'BOARDWALK EMPIRE' EPISODE RECAPS - SEASON 3

I've been tardy this year with my 'Boardwalk Empire' recaps re-posted here on Monday mornings. While they all live at NJ.com (my day gig) via The Star-Ledger, I've normally posted them here every week since the show debuted in 2010. Alas, here are the links to all of the episode recaps in season 3. They're chock full of historical information, videos, music from the era and a lively forum. As always, enjoy... COMPLETE STAR-LEDGER 'BOARDWALK...

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ARE BLOGS DEAD? THEY JUST MAY BE...

Greetings one and all. As you may have noticed, I haven't updated Bukowski's Basement for quite some time. Between being harried at the day job and gathering thoughts and research for my upcoming Fight Card novella 'Union of the Snakes,’ things have been getting dusty round these parts. For that I apologize. Funny enough, the daily traffic here has maintained a steady level of visitors (261,000+ page views). Reason? I can only assume there's...

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THE DOLL (#fridayflash)

Press play for some mood music It was about two years ago when I found it buried within the walls of the attic as if it had been left behind by mistake. Looking back now, it had to be on purpose. Someone a lifetime ago wanted the doll gone and I let it out with one swing of a sledgehammer. Don't get me wrong. The doll wasn't Chucky. At least that red headed little bastard had a sense of humor. Mine was just creepy. Odd things had a way...

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'BOARDWALK EMPIRE RECAP': YOU'RE NOT GETTIN' GLOOMY ARE YA, GUS?

'I got a gun ... HE got a gun ... He got a gun ... EVER'BODY GOT GUNS! 'BOARDWALK EMPIRE' RECAP SEASON THREE, EPISODE TWO 'SPAGHETTI & COFFEE' THIS WEEK: Written by Howard Korder and directed by 'Empire' first-timer Alik Sakharov, the tension in this episode progressed nicely with — shockingly — no body count which is a rarity these days on 'Empire.' As always, take heed... Massive spoilers ahead. Here's what went down: • Nucky meets...

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BOARDWALK EMPIRE RECAP': GANGSTER GYP MORETTI STEPS OUT

Character actor Bobby Cannavale explodes on the screen as gangster Gyp Moretti. BOARDWALK EMPIRE RECAP SEASON THREE, EPISODE ONE 'RESOLUTION' THIS WEEK:  The more things change, the more they stay the same. Around a year has passed and Jimmy Darmody (Michael Pitt) is long gone. Nucky Thompson (Steve Buscemi) — no longer Atlantic County treasurer — keeps busy by playing benefactor and philanthropist by day while supplying the region with...

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'BOARDWALK EMPIRE' SEASON 3: FIVE QUESTIONS

Well ... It's back. It's been a long wait. The third season of HBO's prohibition drama "Boardwalk Empire" kicks off Sunday night at 9 p.m. and we're prepping our best small batch bourbon for the return of Nucky Thompson and company. We'd be lying, however, if we said we weren't a bit worried. After last season's shocking body count of major players, will HBO's lavish critical darling rebound from not only the loss of a main character but continue...

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BUK!

I know, I know... the blog has been a tad lonely of late. Reason? The day gig has been a tad intense this summer. But alas, regularly scheduled posts will return as well as goodies from a guest poet, new film noir suggestions and oodles of flash fiction and Americana fun. And what better time to let Basement Dwellers know this than on Hank's birthday... To celebrate the occasion, enjoy the video below, the COMPLETE Bukowski documentary "Born...

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EDWARD HOPPER PAINTINGS COME TO LIFE

One night last week, I was watching a documentary about the Library of Congress and the National Film Registry's effort to preserve American motion pictures and was immediately struck by a short film called "Cologne: From the Diary of Ray and Esther." This charming piece of Americana, shot by Minnesota residents Ray and Esther Dowidat, documents the people and everyday life in Cologne, Minnesota, circa 1939. Compiled by the National Film Preservation...

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NEO NOIR: FOUR FILMS YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED, PART III

Clockwise from top, Philip Baker Hall, Michael Madsen, Kim Dickens, and Alec Baldwin My rule: The best thing about noir as a genre is that it can be bent a thousand ways from Sunday. I've said that once and I'll continue. While most classic noir films we've come to love have stemmed from the 40s and 50s (too many to name), plenty of neo noirs have been delivered in the modern day from director Roman Polanski's take of the private eye film in...

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EARTH ANGEL (#fridayflash)

Press play for some mood music My conscience was beginning to hold me hostage and the ransom was my future. Despite what we were taught by Father Flynn, some people were expendable. They just didn't matter. I was a crook born and raised in a cold, Catholic orphanage and quickly learned that even I didn't matter. She was no different. I could tell she didn't exactly have a high opinion of her own footing in life. It was easy for people...

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'BOARDWALK EMPIRE' SEASON 3 TEASERS

Nothing like simple, but effective teasers... Enjoy these very quick black and white spots for the third season of 'Boardwalk Empire' on HBO. Recaps, as usual, will come Monday mornings at NJ.com in September. Prep your bourbon... Tw...

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THE KREATIV BLOGGER AWARD

The Flash Fiction blog Liminal Fiction and its owner, Richard Bon, was kind enough to bestow upon me the Kreativ Blogger Award. Mucho thanks for that, Richard! Thanks, as always, for reading. In order to accept the kudos, I have to share 10 things about myself with my basement dwellers and pass it along to a few blogs that I feel are worthy. OK ... So here goes: 1) I can only watch noir films at night. 2) I'm a sucker for old radio dramas. 3)...

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NEO NOIR: FOUR FILMS YOU MAY HAVE MISSED, PART II

Clockwise from top left: Joe Pesci, Gina Gershon and Billy Zane, Woody Harrelson and Robert Mithum. The best thing about noir as a genre is that it can be bent a thousand ways from Sunday. I've said that once and I'll continue. While most classic noir films we've come to love have stemmed from the 40s and 50s (too many to name), plenty of neo noirs have been delivered in the modern day from director Roman Polanski's take of the private...

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NEW TV SHOWS: 'VEGAS,' 'MADE IN JERSEY'

The gorgeous Janet Montgomery in 'Made in Jersey.' As the networks pimp their shows with announcements from the upfronts in Cali., I have to admit that nothing is exactly tickling my fancy.  For the most part it's the same bumper crop of sitcoms, police procedurals and paranormal caca with the name J.J. Abrams stamped on it. Call me jaded. Two shows, however, stood out. Since I hail from the state Tony Soprano called home, "Made in...

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HIPPY CHICKS (#fridayflash)

Press play for some mood music  They didn’t give a flying rat's ass about poetry or jazz. They just wanted to maybe smoke and get drunk. Maybe score some of that good reefer from the new beatnik kid who wanted to be Kerouac. They were young American girls who thought they knew it all. They were runaways but would never admit it and, under normal circumstances, would probably be pretty were it not for the vigors of bohemian life like tobacco,...

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NEO NOIR: FOUR CLASSICS YOU MAY HAVE MISSED

Clockwise from upper left, Denzel Washington, Michael Shannon, Billy Bob Thornton and Elliot Gould   The best thing about noir as a genre is that it can be bent a thousand ways from Sunday. While most classic noir films we've come to love have stemmed from the 40s and 50s (too many to name), plenty of neo noirs have been delivered in the modern day from director Roman Polanski's take of the private eye film in "Chinatown" to the burnt-neon...

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PICK ME UP ON YOUR WAY DOWN (#fridayflash)

Press play for some mood musicfirst hourIt had been a long drive for Grace -- like can't feel your legs long.Somewhere between the grime of Los Angeles and the burnt palette of the Nevada border, she ditched her pumps altogether. As she drove over the cracked asphalt, she heard them rattle underneath the passenger seat and it bothered her.third hourShe looked for a gas station or roadside slophouse. Nothing. Despite the growling in her gut, she wasn't...

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I TAUGHT HER WELL (#fridayflash)

Press play for some mood musicEven though she pointed that gun at me, I wasn't scared.You see, it wasn't the first time and truth be told, I wasn't sure if this little chickadee had what chickadees didn't to pull the trigger. In fact, I couldn't help think how it made her sexier. I tried not to smirk. She looked cute.I slowly walked over to the bar cart and poured myself a copper delight. I raised an empty glass in her direction, asking if she wanted...

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'MAGIC CITY': HITS AND MISSES

Everyone wants them some Don Draper...As the recently-cancelled "Playboy Club" on NBC has shown and what ABC's "Pan Am" will soon learn is that it takes a little bit more than period clothing to capture that "Mad Men" magic. The "Mad Men" formula is simple. The Emmy-winning AMC show is first and foremost a workplace show about advertising and the people who inhabit the office. The sixties era-coolness is just the setting. It's done so well, that...

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PULP/NOIR: DAN TURNER HOLLYWOOD DETECTIVE AND AUDIO TREATS

You tend to find some gems while poking around the web in the wee small hours. While hunting on YouTube for a NOIR documentary, all sorts of goodies come up -- namely some full-length gems like "Detour," "Borderline" " Cape Fear" and "While the City Sleeps." I've created a Noir playlist (a work in progress) so enthusiasts can enjoy. These are perfectly watchable on a smartphone or tab. Enjoy.One YouTube discovery simply that simply blew me away was...

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