Sirk TV Book Review: NOBODY MOVE [Into The Void]
The aspect of a crime thriller is based on those that influenced it. The reflexivity especially of Tarantino's work has had an influence on many writers who finally after trying to find that right texture realize that this kind of pulp crime does have an archetype to it. "Nobody Move" [Philip Elliot/Into The Void/336pgs] works on the auspice that for every action, there is an equal reaction. While goals and fate play a part, the choices are part of the angle that keeps us going. The book strays a little too closely to the set up of "Pulp Fiction" since Floyd has the undeniable vernacular of Jules yet the Texan is distinctly influenced in certain ways to the Man With No Name in "No Country For Old Men." Los Angeles is a land of lost souls searching for meaning in a never-ending maze motivated by selfishness and greed. Once in a while, an inkling of morality peaks and either people can connect or have a dream of something better. The ideal is reflected in one of perspective. Eddie here is a man stuck in a rut of claustrophobic opportunity. An accidental lapse in judgement sets a series of events in motion that is very hard to recover from. While many of the story points are cliche at points, that is part of the narrative's intention because it is played for that sense of irony while reinforcing those archetypes. Certain characters like Sawyer tend to jump out as well as the Latino hitman. The race after a certain crime is committed along the ocean crescendoing into a sniper battle has the makings of its own bounty hunter base series. But in getting to the end of the plot with a certain "True Romance" dexterity, the author tends to forget how well developed the characters were on their way to being initially. There is supposed to be a love story at the book's core and, for a fleeting moment, it creates that texture because the audience knows more than one of the characters...and it is a game changer. Ultimately, "Nobody Move" never quite becomes its own thing because of the level of expectation and fandom it places on itself. Glimpses of textured brilliance are at play but are fleeting in the overall structure of the story which, while effective, is representative still of the status quo. B-
By Tim Wassberg
