With the 3rd season of Justified to begin Jan 12 on FX, I decided to tune up by reading another Elmore Leonard book based on Justified's main character, Deputy US Marshall Raylan Givens. While Justified is set in Raylan's home of Harlan County, Kentucky, this takes us back a few years to the time when Raylan, and his ever present Stetson, was a bit of a fish out of water based in Miami.Harry Arno is a Miami bookie working for Jimmy Cap, a regional mob boss. Harry has his own way of keeping track of his bettors and has run a decent sports book for some time sending a steady stream of money Jimmy Cap's way. But Harry has also had an eye on his future seeing as he is nearing retirement. Having served in Italy during WWII, he's settled on a quiet retirement in a nice little villa in Rapello on the NW Italian coast. Plans to purchase it with the cash he's been skimming from Jimmy Cap. Maybe even take his sometime girlfriend/model Joyce.
The local FBI is having one of its periodic hard ons for the Miami mob and one particularly nasty agent corners Harry and says he's gonna let out the word that Harry has been skimming unless Harry agrees to help the fibbies get evidence on Jimmy Cap.
Harry isn't too keen on that, thinking Jimmy just might believe the feds and put Harry out of a job, permanently. Enter Raylan Givens. Raylan's been teaching weapons at the Glynco, Georgia federal academy. About the time Raylan is due to get reassigned to the field in Miami, his wife tells Raylan she's staying in Glynco with their 2 sons (the sons are a detail left out of the TV show). In Miami, Raylan gets the call to bring Harry in, because that's what the Marshall's service does. About 8 years earlier, Raylan was escorting Harry to Chicago to testify when Harry just walked away when they were changing planes in Atlanta. Same thing happens again in Miami this time.
Harry decides the time is right and bolts Miami for Italy. The scene now shifts to Rapello. Jimmy Cap has sent Nicky, a bit of a dimwitted excuse for muscle eager for his first kill, and the Zip, a Sicilian by birth and unrepentant gun thug by occupation. Raylan knows where Harry is headed, but doesn't know where he'll be living. Jimmy's crew and Raylan arrive about the same time only to engage in an unfriendly tango while trying to find Harry. In the meantime, Joyce answered Harry's call to come to Italy.
The Italian venture turns out not to be to Harry's liking. He, Joyce, and Raylan, after some shenanigans, go back to Miami followed by Nicky and the Zip. Raylan tells Jimmy Cap to lay off Harry that he didn't do anything wrong (but he really had, Raylan's always had a bit of a liking for Harry) and that while in Italy Raylan learned that the Zip was setting himself up to off Jimmy Cap and take over the Miami bookmaking business.
It's hard to go wrong with Elmore Leonard. He has written some of the most colorful mysteries and I've yet to pick up a dud. Leonard carefully gets you to like the good guys and think poorly of the bad guys. There is enough humor to bring a smile to the hard boiled reader and enough blood letting for we male fans. In some ways, Raylan and Pronto reminded me a bit of one of my favorite Leonard characters, Chili Palmer from Get Shorty. Cool, calm, violent only when provoked, but endearing in spite of his history.
When my search for new authors hits a bit of a lull, I know I can always pick up most any Elmore Leonard book (or Ken Bruen, Michael Connelly, et al.) at random and know it'll be an enjoyable read.
East Coast Don
Guys, have you ever seen the movie Pronto with Peter Falk? Hilarious. Well worth the time. I liked the ending of that better than the start of Justified, although Justified is terrific. Check it out if you haven't seen it. One of my favorite Leonard books, as well, although I'm still waiting for a movie on Mr. Paradise. That one I loved.
ReplyDeleteI had no idea that Pronto had been made into a movie. I will most certainly find a way to see it. My gut tells me that casting Peter Falk was genius. Can't place LeGros though, or picture anyone else in the Raylan role. IMDB has LeGros credited in Justified, but I don't remember the part . . . 45' until Raylan goes back on patrol making Harlan County safe. Thanks for the heads up on the flick.
ReplyDeleteCOpera:
ReplyDeleteMy son looked around. PRONTO is not available on netFlix. Amazon has a used copy on VHS. Best bet is some TV movie channel like maybe AMC. If you know of another option, I'm all ears.