Previews and Reviews that are Z's Views
Interesting choices that Yvan Quinet made for his Platoon alt poster. Instead of going for explosions and color, Quinet goes for understated poses and color… and it works!
” I love this place at night, the stars. There’s no right or wrong in them. They’re just there.” – Sgt. Elias
Dog Day Afternoon (1975)
Director: Sidney Lumet
Screenplay: Frank Pierson, story by Thomas Moore, based on The Boys in the Bank article in Life magazine by P. F. Kluge, Thomas Moore
Stars: Al Pacino, John Cazale, James Broderick, Penelope Allen, Sully Boyar, Carol Kane, Lance Henrikson, Floyd Levine, Dick Anthony Williams, Chris Sarandon and Charles Durning.
Tagline: The robbery should have taken 10 minutes. 4 hours later, the bank was like a circus sideshow. 8 hours later, it was the hottest thing on live T.V. 12 hours later, it was all history. And it’s all true
The Plot…
On the morning of August 22, 1972, three buddies, Sonny, Sal and Stevie, first time crooks, went in to a New York bank. They intended to rob it. As soon as Sonny and Sal pulled their guns, Stevie lost his nerve. As Sonny and Sal held the clerks at bay, Stevie apologized and ran away.
Things went downhill from there.
The bank’s daily cash pick-up had already occurred. There was barely $1,000.00 in the bank. Worse still, a silent alarm had been triggered during the commotion. In no time the bank was surrounded by cops and onlookers.
It was a stand-off.
Because Sonny and Sal were new at this, their actions confused the police. The cops thought they were dealing with hardcases who would kill their hostages without a second thought. Their demands though were confusing. They wanted pizzas for the hostages and themselves, transportation to the airport and a jet to take everyone (hostages included) to an undisclosed location. When asked why they were robbing the bank, their answer: Sonny wanted to get his lover a sex change operation.
As crazy as this sounds, it is all true. And would get even crazier before it was over.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Dog Day Afternoon received six Academy Award nominations and won one…
Director Sidney Lumet was against the casting of John Cazale as Sal. In real life, Sal was just 18 when the robbery took place. John Cazale was nearly 40, clearly too old for the role. Al Pacino kept pushing for Cazale, so Lumet brought him in to audition and was won over.
This real life robbery became a model for police to learn how (and how not) to deal with hostage situations and unruly mobs of onlookers.
Sidney Lumet allowed his cast to improvise much of the dialogue. When Al Pacino incites the crowd by yelling “Attica! Attica!”, Charles During looks confused. He was. Pacino improvised the line. When Pacino asks Cazale, “What country he’d like to fly to” and Cazale responds, “Wyoming” it was another improvisation. Pacino’s look of surprise was genuine.
Dog Day Afternoon features Chris Sarandon’s feature film debut. Sarandon won an Oscar for his performance.
Dog Day Afternoon is classic.
Dog Day Afternoon (1975) rates 5 of 5 stars.
Tim Curry passed away last night. No cause of death was given. Mr. Curry suffered a serious stroke in 2012 and serious health issues after.
Tim Curry knew from an early age that he wanted to be an actor. In 1968, he graduated from the University of Birmingham with a BA degree in English and drama. The same year, Mr. Curry earned a role as part of the original London cast of Hair. That’s when he met Richard O’Brien who would go on to write The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show theater production became a smash hit. It played in London, Los Angeles and New York City and made Tim Curry a star. Following the run of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Tim Curry would work on stage, feature films and television for the rest of his career. In addition to acting, Mr. Curry also has success as a singer. He not only sang in some of his film roles but had three solo albums released during his career.
Some of the honors and awards Mr. Curry received include…
Some of Tim Curry’s television performances include: Television Theater From…; Armchair Theater; Napoleon and Love (4 episodes); Play for Today; Three Men in a Boat; Rock Follies ’77; Will Shakespeare (6 episodes); Tim Curry: I Do Rock; Oliver Twist; The Greatest Adventure: Stories from the Bible (2 episodes); The Tracey Ulman Show (2 episodes); Wiseguy (6 episodes); Fantastic Max (4 episodes); Padington Bear (13 episodes); Gravedale High (3 episodes); It (2 episodes); Talespin (2 episodes); Peter Pan and the Pirates (59 episodes); Fish Police (6 episodes); Batman the Animated Series (2 episodes); Darkwing Duck (3 episodes); The Adventures of Don Coyote and Sancho Panda (33 episodes); Roseanne (2 episodes); The Pirates of Dark Water (20 episodes); The Legend of Prince Valiant (64 episodes); Tales from the Crypt; Dinosaurs (7 episodes); Aladin (3 episodes); Mighty Max (4 episodes); The Little Mermaid (12 episodes); Earth 2 (4 episodes); Sonic the Hedgehog (13 episodes); Superhuman Samurai Syber-Squad (53 episodes); The Naked Truth (2 episodes); Captain Plant and the Planeteers (27 episodes); Gargoyles (7 episodes); Mighty Ducks (22 episodes); The Mask (14 episodes); Duckman: Private Dick/Family Man (1o episodes); Ahh! Real Monsters (19 episodes); Jumanji (18 episodes); Rude Awakening (3 episodes); Rude Awakening (6 episodes); Tales from the Crypt; Big Guy and Rusty the Boy Robot (2 episodes); Gary & Mike; Samurai Jack; Monk; Will & Grace (2 episodes); Hey Arnold! (3 episodes); The Wild Thornberrys (90 episodes); Monty Python’s Spamalot; Duck Dodgers; The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius (7 episodes); Me, Eloise (13 episodes); Psych; Criminal Minds (2 episodes); Regular Show (2 episodes); Phineas and Ferb (2 episodes); Young Justice (8 episodes); Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja (19 episodes); Star Wars: The Clone Wars (10 episodes); Over the Gaarden Wall; The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Let’s Do the Time Warp Again and Rocky Horror Show: Livestream Theater.
Some of Tim Curry’s feature film appearances include: The Rocky Horror Picture Show; Annie; Legend; Clue; The Hunt for Red October; Oscar; Home Alone 2: Lost in New York; Loaded Weapon; The Shadow; Congo; Muppet Treasure Island; McHale’s Navy; Charlie’s Angels; Rugrats in Paris; Scary Movie 2 and Kinsey.
I first became aware of Tim Curry (like most folks) from his role in The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Whenever he popped up in a movie or television show, I always enjoyed his performance. I have three favorite Tim Curry fim appearances: The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Legend and of course, Oscar.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to Tim Curry’s family, friends and fans.
Deep Blue Sea (1999)
Director: Renny Harlin
Screenplay: Duncan Kennedy, Donna Powers, Wayne Powers
Stars: Saffron Burrows, Thomas Jane, LL Cool J, Jacqueline McKenzie, Michael Rapaport, Stellan Skarsgård, Aida Turturro, Samuel L. Jackson and Ronny Cox, Renny Harlin.
Tagline: Bigger. Smarter. Faster. Meaner.
The Plot…
At a remote research facility located on the deep sea, Dr. Susan McAlester leads a small group of scientists working to find a cure to Alzheimer’s disease. McAlester’s research involves using proteins from the brains of three captured sharks.
When one of the sharks uses an object as a battering ram to bust through an observation window, McAlester admits that she genetically altered the sharks’ brains to make them bigger. Now the small research team is stranded in a sinking research facilty surrounded by sharks that are…
Bigger. Smarter. Faster. Meaner.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Ronny Cox appears uncredited as an Executive. Renny Harlin appears uncredited as a worker.
*** SPOILERS – MAJOR SPOILERS FOLLOW***
In the original cut at the end of the film Saffron Burrows was the hero. Audiences in test screenings hated it because she was the reason the sharks were changed. Some of her scenes (that made her more sympathetic) were cut. Reshot footage had a shark kill her and made LL Cool J’s character the hero.
Suddenly killing off Russell Franklin (Samuel L. Jackson) well before the end of the movie was inspired by Tom Skerritt’s character’s demise in Alien. Killing the best known actor and lead character put the survivors in more jeopardy. When I first saw Deep Blue Sea, I was totally shocked when Samuel L. Jackson was killed. Well played, Renny Harlin.
Deep Blue Sea (1999) rates 3 of 5 stars.
World War Z gets a worthy alt poster by Mike Empleado! I love the distressed borders.
“Every person we save is one less zombie to fight.” – Jurgen Warmbrunn
Dolly Parton, the singer, songwriter, actress, business woman and philanthropist died today. Ms. Parton was 80. No cause of death was given.
Dolly Parton was born in a one-room cabin in Pittman Center, Tennesse. She was the fourth of twelve children. Dolly’s father worked as a sharecropper, and tended to his own small tobacco farm. Her mother stayed at home to take care of the family.
Dolly’s singing talent was recognized at an early age. By the time she was ten Dolly sang regularly on local radio programs. When Dolly was thirteen she sang at the Grand Ole Opry and released a single through a small recording label. The day after she graduated high school, Dolly moved to Nashville.
Dolly was first recognized as a successful songwriter, often teaming with her Uncle, Bill Owens. Several of her (and their) songs became top hits for recording stars such as Bill Phillips, Hank Williams Jr. and Skeeter Davis. In 1967, Dolly became a regular on The Porter Wagner Show. Dolly and Wagner released a top ten single the same year. It became the first of their six consecutive top ten hits.
Dolly’s first solo number one hit came in 1970 when “Joshua” topped the country music charts. As her hits continued, her fan base expanded beyond country music devotees. In 1976, Dolly hosted a variety television series. After one season, despite good ratings, Dolly asked to be released from her contract due to stress on her vocal cords.
In 1980, Dolly appeared in her first feature film, 9 to 5. Dolly also wrote and sang the film’s title song. For her efforts, Dolly received nominations for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Musical or Comedy and a Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year – Actress. Her song received nominations for an Academy Award for Best Song and a Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song. The song, which hit #1 won the Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance and the Grammy Award for Best Country Song.
Dolly would continue to record songs, tour, headline on television and in feature films. Her themepark, Dollywood, opened in 1986. Dolly wrote three memoirs/autobiographies, co-authored a mystery with James Patterson, a cookbook with her sister, and five children’s books. In 1995, Dolly started the Imagination Station, which sends books free of charge monthly to children from birth to the age of five. Currently over 3 million books are mailed out each month.
Dolly Parton was known for her generous philanthropy. In addition to her Imagination Station, Dolly donated to and helped raise money for many clinics and hospitals, PETA, the American Eagle foundation, victims of the 2016 Great Smokey Mountain fires, Pediatric cancer programs, hurricane relief, COVID research and many, many more programs.
Dolly Parton was one of a kind. Her rise to international fame and success in every area she ventured is remarkable. As talented as she was, it is her humanitarianism that impresed me the most. Dolly was kind, humble and loved by all. We will not soon see her like again.
Out thoughts and prayers go out to Dolly Parton’s family, friends and fans.
The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976)
Director: Clint Eastwood
Screenplay: Phil Kaufman, Sonia Chernus; based on GONE TO TEXAS by Forrest Carter.
Stars: Clint Eastwood, Chief Dan George, Sondra Locke, Bill McKinney, Paula Trueman, Sam Bottoms, Woodrow Parfrey, Joyce Jameson, Sheb Wooley, Royal Dano, Matt Clark, Will Samson and John Vernon.
Tagline: …an army of one.
The Plot…
As the Civil War rages, Josey Wales tries to make a go of it as a peaceful farmer. That changes when Union Soldiers burn down his farm and kill his wife and young son. With nothing left to live for, Josey joins a group of Confederate renegades.
When the Civil War ends, the Confederate renegades are given a chance to surrender with their lives. They’re told if they come in, swear alliegence to the Union, they will be pardoned. All of the renegades except for Josey Wales goes in.
Josey watches from a distance. As he suspected it is a death trap. Josey rides in, killing several soldiers as he takes over a gattling gun. Josey continues to mow down Union soldiers using their weapon.
Josey makes his escape. Now he has a price on his head. Every bounty hunter as well as a squad of Union soldiers wants Josey Wales dead.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
The Outlaw Josey Wales received one 1977 Academy Award Nominaton for Best Music, Original Score – Jerry Fielding
The Director’s Guild of America instituted a new rule after Clint Eastwood replaced director Philip Kaufman after filming had started. It bans any crew of cast member from replacing a director. It was dubbed the “Eastwood Rule”.
The Outlaw Josey Wales is the first of six times Eastwood and Sondra Locke co-starred.
David Geffen says he was a young executive at Warner Bros. asked to provide notes after an early screening of The Outlaw Josey Wales. None of the other execs had any. Geffen suggested to Eastwood that the film be shortened by a half hour. Eastwood’s response was that he could cut it, if that’s what was needed. Geffen asked, “Where will you be?” “Across the street at Paramount cutting a new deal.” Needless to say, the movie was not cut.
I prefer The Outlaw Josey Wales to Unforgiven… or any of Eastwood’s other westerns. It is a classic.
Chief Dan George is a treasure.
The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976) rates 5 of 5 stars.
Fredlobo Lopez presents Rocky Balboa!
Highlander (the original) is such a fun 80s film. Nuno Sardanas has created a tribute poster that is worthy of it.
” I am Connor MacLeod of the Clan MacLeod. I was born in 1518 in the village of Glenfinnan on the shores of Loch Shiel. And I am immortal.“ – Connor MacLeod
“The Quatermass Xperiment” aka “The Creeping Unknown” (1955)
Director: Val Guest
Screenplay: Richard Landau, Val Guest; based on the 1953 tv series The Quatermass Experiment by Nigel Kneale
Stars: Brian Donlevy, Richard Wordsworth, Jack Warner, David King-Wood, Margia Dean and Maurice Kaufmann.
Tagline: It’s coming for YOU from Space to wipe all living things from the face of the Earth! CAN IT BE STOPPED?
The Plot…
The first manned rocket ship into space was was a success thanks to Professor Bernard Quatermass. He was the scientific genius behind the design, manufacture and launch of the ship. While in space contact with the three man crew was lost.
When the ship returns Quatermass finds that two of the three astronauts are gone. The only thing left of them is their empty space suits. The third astronaut is in shock and unable to speak. Quatermass discovers that an alien organism killed the other two astronauts and is now in the third… mutating his body into something deadly.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Jane Asher plays the little girl trying to befriend the astronaut as he is mutating. Asher would grow up to be one of Paul McCartney’s fiancées.
The film’s title spells Experiment as Xperiment as a way to draw attention to the fact that The British Board of Film Censors gave the film an X rating meaning the film had themes that might be too strong or intense for persons under the age of 16.
The Quatermass Xperiment was released as The Creeping Unknown in the US.
“The Quatermass Xperiment” aka “The Creeping Unknown” (1955) rates 3 of 5 stars.
Riccardo Rosanna’s cool alt Reservoir Dogs poster!
I discovered this cool Rocky 3 painting by Brian Haberlin in the collection of Kirk Dilbeck.
When I asked for permission to share the piece, Kirk reached out to Brian to make sure it was okay with him. Brian said, “Okay but please post that I did this as a TEEN. That it’s really old. :)”
Talk about talent. Check out Haberlin’s current work. When you’re done there give Dilbeck’s collection a look. Plan to stay a bit of time in both. (And it’s well worth the time!)
Fallen (1998)
Director: Gregory Hoblit
Screenplay: Nicholas Kazan
Stars: Denzel Washington, John Goodman, Donald Sutherland, Embeth Davidtz, James Gandolfini, Elias Koteas, Robert Joy.
Tagline: Don’t trust a soul.
The Plot…
Detective John Hobbes is surprised to find serial killer Edgar Reese is so cheerful when he is about to be executed. Reese shows no remorse as he taunts the witnesses and sings “Time is On My Side” as justice is served.
Following Reese’s execution, a new series of murders occur. The killer uses the same methods as Reese. Detective Hobbes and his partner Jonesy believe a copycat is at play. As they investigate the new murders, friends and strangers begin to say and do strange things around Hobbes. It is almost as if they are taunting him. It is especially disconcerting to hear them sing “Time is on my side”.
Then Hobbes discovers an occult connection to Reese. Could it be possible that a demon took possession of the humans behind the murders? If true, this demon can transfer from one body to another simply by touch. Hobbes cannot believe that a supernatural force, a demon, could be involved.
Then the demon makes it’s presence known.
Hobbes is at a loss. How do you defeat a demon that can possess anyone around you? One thing is for sure… he can’t trust a soul.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Fallen is better than I thought it would be. Much of that credit goes to the cast — especially Denzel Washington, John Goodman and James Gandolfini.
Other taglines for the film include:
Fallen (1998) rates 4 of 5 stars.
The Pitt is arguably the best show on televsion. Today we get the first Season 3 trailer.
Deal me in.
Time to get back to it.
Season 3 of #ThePitt premieres in January on HBO Max.
This Zorro sketch by Federico Vicentini gets two thumbs up in a Z formation. (If you know, you know.)
