In The Electric Mist

I just saw 'In The Electric Mist' with Tommy Lee Jones, based on the book 'In The Electric Mist With The Confederate Dead' (which I thought was pretty good).

The movie was less than impressive, unconvincing actors, and a plot which is hard to love.

However, James Lee Burke is a great writer in my opinion, as he invokes the feeling of the time. Like Ray Bradbury covered the memory-sweet childhood of the 40/50s, either missing home living in space, or being pursued by the horror of a grim circus/familial vampires and bone festivities. Or how Kerouac or H.S. Thompson brings us the drug and travel addled 70's, or Fitzgerald hands us the 20's with all it's misconceptions and elitism.

Burke gives us Louisiana, pre-Katrina, in all its crooked, old-world glory. The movie however, despite Tommy Lee Jones' apt delivery, doesn't ring true. Somewhat in the same way that True Blood's cast/dialog doesn't work. Partly because of the dialect, which seems too backwards to be true. See: 'A Love Song For Bobby Long' if you want a glimpse New Orleans for reals'.

The movie doesnt do the book justice.