I watch several movies a week, and often am conflicted about what to do a reveiw on for the blog. Fortunately I can use my website for anything that I decide I cant blog about. So it is that while up till Friday or Saturday of this week, I intended to blog about another movie for this Movie's Movies category, I changed my mind. I may blog about the other movie later or may just put it on the website.

What changed my mind? Well, seeing two movies remincient of the old gumshoe movies, that somehow I picture Bogart appearing in. You know, the rule breaking, just barely managing to earn enought to get his next meal, gumshoe like Peter Marlowe. Lots of mystery and death, but no shortage of comedy, romance, and yes, even some pathos.

The movies are Third Man Out and Shock to the System starring Chad Allen as the gumshoe Donald Strachey. The sitting is Albany, New York and we see Donald driving his rather ratty car, trying to solve murder mysteries. The twist is that this is a gay detective. The odd thing is that this is the worst kept secret in the entire story. EVERYBODY, knows Donald as "The Gay Detective". Love interest is provided by his somewhat more studious, bookwormish, political aid lover played aptly by Sebactian Spence, wearing glasses and worrying about money to keep their home together, altought looking at their home I dont find myself worrying a whole lot, very nice home. In addition, we get to see the flirtations that Donald finds himself involved in in his search for the "truth" about whatever mystery he is trying to get to the bottom of.

The things that intrique me the most are his weaknesses, including his bad car, and how he manages to find parking places for it. He operates just barely inside the law....like the typical gumshoe as protrayed in the Peter Marlowe films.

Altought these two movies, and any others after them, were done in 2005 and 2006, in many ways they are a flash back to an earlier type. I recommend that anyone that thinks they might be interested, try one, and if you like it watch the other. I recommend Third Man Out first because it was the earlier of the two, and some of the Shock builds on part of the first. There is always a "morale" but whatever you think of the morale, these movies are worth it just for the detective story involved, and the hilarily of watching Donald Strachly naviagate the mystery ridden Albany. (OK, OK, so in addition, I find Chad Allen to be quite the heart trob, so what!??! LOL)