nancefics

And so we continue in my “who exactly the hell is this again?” series of obscure fanmixes for obscure characters. *G*

Avery, as imagined by John Grisham in his 1991 novel “The Firm,” is a senior partner at the Mafia-owned legal firm of Bendini, Lambert & Locke, and he’s given the task of mentoring/corrupting protagonist and new Harvard grad Mitchell McDeere while initiating him into his shadowy little brotherhood. Long story short, Mitch gets wise, the FBI gets involved, the firm is brought down, and drunk, womanizing, no-longer-useful Avery gets whacked by his bosses.

When I read the novel, I really couldn’t care less about any of this.

The 1993 movieverse!Avery is a different story altogether, probably in part because Gene Hackman breathed a lot of life and depth and humanity into the character. Movieverse!Avery is by turns funny, charming, sleazy and hot, served up with a Havana Club and all packaged up into a custom-tailored suit. He drinks too much, he takes lots of risks with other people’s money, and he sleeps with a lot of women who aren’t his wife. He’s sold his soul, he knows it, and he’s slowly collapsing into a mass of self-loathing and depression. He mocks Mitch for being an idealist, but in the end he’s able to call upon what’s left of his own integrity and sacrifice himself in order to do the right thing. As Mitch’s wife Abby says, “he was decent, and corrupt, and ruined, and so unhappy.”

He was also hella fun to make a fanmix for. *G*

Enjoy, and let me know if any links need fixing, re-uploading, etc.

The Firm (movieverse) – Avery Tolar – Cars & Girls

01: you’re so vain :: carly simon

well you’re where you should be all the time : and when you’re not you’re with some underworld spy or the wife of a close friend : and you’re so vain

[download]

02: dirty little secret :: the all-american rejects

who has to know : when we live such fragile lives : it’s the best way to survive : i go around a time or two : just to waste my time with you :: don’t tell anyone or you’ll be just another regret

download]

03: mean :: plight

you think you want to be loved but you think too much : you know you’ve had ambition but had no luck : and every put-down is another nail in your self-esteem : don’t say that you’re lonely, where have you been?

[download]

04 : when the blues catch up to you :: bettye levette

movin’ way too fast : one day you’ll pay for what you do : i might not be around when the blues catch up to you

[download]

05 : love is hell :: ryan adams

and she’s pretty, jesse’s spinning the tunes : eyelashes and some white leather boots : god, what have i been drinking? :: i could be anything, anything but stickin’ around

[download]

06 : better than sleeping alone :: amelia

a starlit night, a darkened door : desire that is only as old as a four-day week : pressed against the golden grain, they’re not feeling lonely : and not feeling moved to speak :: they likely know whatever comes, it comes and it goes: but it’s better than sleeping alone

[download]

07 : cars and girls :: prefab sprout

little boy got a hot rod, thinks it makes him some kind of new god : well this is one race he won’t win : cos life’s no cruise with a cool chick :: so look at us now : some things hurt more much more than cars and girls

[download]

08 : murder by millions :: get set go

i’m not a very nice guy : i’ve made so many women cry : and i know i am alone : and that’s the way it’s meant to be : i’ve been cruel, i’ve played the fool : and i’ve made a mess of everything :: i am shamed

[download]

09 : when your number isn’t up :: mark lanegan

no one needs to tell you : that there’s no use for you here anymore :: when the sun is finally going down : and you’re overdue to follow : but you’re still above the ground : what you’ve got coming is hard to swallow : like blood running warm

[download]

10 : narrow daylight :: diana krall

i walked the halls of reputation : among the infamous too : as the camera clings to the common thread : beyond all vanity into a gaze to shoot you through : is the kindness we count upon hidden in everyone?

[download]

[download .zip with all songs & artwork]