“Back in Action” (2025) starring Jamie Foxx & Cameron Diaz / Z-View

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Back in Action (2025)

Director:  Seth Gordon

Screenplay: Seth Gordon, Brendan O’Brien

Stars: Jamie Foxx, Cameron Diaz, McKenna Roberts, Rylan Jackson, Kyle Chandler, Jamie Demetriou, Andrew Scott, Fola Evans-Akingbola, Ben VanderMey, Tobi Bamtefa and Glenn Close.

Tagline: They’re living their best lies..

The Plot…

Fifteen years ago Matt and Emily were CIA operatives… and lovers.  That all changed when they discovered Emily was  pregnant. The left the organization without any goodbyes and changed their identities.  Since then Matt, Emily and their two teenage kids have been living a normal life.

That all changes when foreign factions and the CIA come after Matt and Emily.  On their last mission they kept a device that could change the world.

Now on the run with their children, they have to figure a way out.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I tapped out after 57 minutes.  Your mileage may vary.

Back in Action (2025) rates 1 of 5 stars.

Jack Carter and John Wick by Roy Chang!

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Every year the Cartoon Art Museum does a fundraiser.  Artists take on commissions with the funds raised going to support the Museum.  It’s a great cause by awesome artists who share their talents in an effort to support the Museum.

This year one of the two artists I commissioned was Roy Chang.  As you can see, I asked for Stallone from Get Carter and Keanu Reeves as John Wick.  Mr. Chang came through like a champ!

“Jade” starring Mickey Rourke, Mark Dacascos, Katherine McNamara and introducing Shaina West – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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Today we have a poster and trailer for Jade.  This is one I’ll check out on streaming since we have drive-ins around here.

Deal me in.

JADE – Official Trailer | On Digital February 18

Official film page: https://www.wellgousa.com/films/jade

After her brother’s untimely and accidental death at her own hands, Jade swore she’d never pick up another gun. But when she unknowingly comes between powerful businessman “Tork” and her former gang leader in their urgent search for a valuable hard drive that could single-handedly take down Interpol, she may not have a choice. With the guidance of Reese, an old friend at Interpol, Jade must come to terms with all she’s faced in the past and present to safeguard her growing family’s future.

Directed by: James Bamford
Cast: Mickey Rourke, Katherine McNamara, Mark Dacascos, and Shaina West

“A Thousand Blows” – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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Today we have a poster and trailer for A Thousand Blows.

Deal me in.

From the creator of Peaky Blinders comes a series about Hezekiah (Malachi Kirby) and Alec (Francis Lovehall), two friends from Jamaica, who finds themselves thrust into the criminal underbelly of 1880’s London’s East End. Here they meet Mary Carr (Erin Doherty), Queen of an all-female criminal gang known as the Forty Elephants, and run afoul of Sugar Goodson (Stephen Graham), criminal kingpin and notorious boxer.

All episodes of A Thousand Blows are streaming February 21 on Hulu.

“Shutter Island” (2010) directed by Martin Scorsese; starring Leonard DiCaprio / Z-View

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Shutter Island (2010)

Director:  Martin Scorsese

Screenplay: Laeta Kalogridis; based on SHUTTER ISLAND by Dennis Lehane

Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley, Max von Sydow, Michelle Williams, Patricia Clarkson, Ted Levine, John Carroll Lynch, Elias Koteas, Robin Bartlett, Nellie Sciutto, Joseph Sikora, Curtiss Cook, Joseph McKenna and Jackie Earle Haley.

Tagline: Someone is missing.

The Plot…

1954.

US Marshall Edward “Teddy” Daniels (DiCaprio) is sent to the Ashecliffe Hospital for the criminally insane.  Only the most violent and mentally ill patients are housed there.  The Ashecliffe Hospital sits on Shutter Island, located just outside of Boston Harbor.  The island rests high above sea level, with sheer cliffs on all sides. The only way in or out is through a number of secured gates attached to the only pier.

Just before departing for Shutter Island Marshall Daniels meets his new partner Officer Chuck Aule (Ruffalo).  Daniels and Aule arrive on Shutter Island just ahead of a hurricane that is rapidly approaching.  Daniels brings Aule up to speed.  They are there to find a missing patient named Rachel Solando.  Solando was there because she drowned her three children.  How she could have gotten off the island is a mystery.  The fact that she cannot be found on the small island seems impossible.  Daniels and Aule are there to resolve the case.

Daniels tells Aule that he asked for the case.  Daniels goes on to say that another of the insane criminals housed on Shutter Island is arsonist Andrew Laeddis.  One of Laeddis’ victims was Daniels wife who died in one of Laeddis’ fires.

As Daniels and Aule speak with the doctors and police officers on staff, Daniels begins to feel that things are not as they seem.  The patient interviews add to Daniels’ concerns.  When Daniels speaks to patient George Noyce privately, Noce informs him that the doctors are lying to him.  Noyce goes on to say that patients are subjected to horrible experiments.  Some are even lobotomized before they can speak out.

With this new knowledge, Daniels plans to leave the island and come back with support.  The only problem is the hurricane keeping all boats away.  Daniels and Officer Aule had been separated.  When Daniels asks about Aule, he is told that he had no partner.

Daniels realizes he’s trapped on the island and nothing is as it seemed. Daniels is outnumbered and outgunned. He’s got to find a way to survive and escape… from a place where escape is impossible.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Shutter Island is based on Dennis Lehane’s book of the same name.  Both the novel and the movie get my highest recommendation.

Shutter Island is an anagram for Truths and Lies.  As Daniels gets deeper and deeper into the mystery, the weather gets worse and the skies darker.  The storm passes and the skies clear, once the mystery is solved.  Unfortunately sunny skies may not mean a happy ending.

There are subtle clues throughout the movie as to what is actually going on.  I won’t give them away, because discovering them as you watch the film is part of the fun.  There’s even more enjoyment watching the film again and seeing how everything is right before our eyes.

Shutter Island (2010) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“American Primeval” (2025) written by Mark L. Smith; directed by Peter Berg; starring Taylor Kitsch & Betty Gilpin / Z-View

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American Primeval (2025)

Created by: Mark L. Smith

Director: Peter Berg

Teleplay: Mark L. Smith

Stars: Taylor Kitsch, Betty Gilpin, Dane DeHaan, Saura Lightfoot-Leon, Derek Hinkey, Joe Tippett, Jai Courtney, Preston Mota, Shawnee Pourier, Kyle Davis, Tokala Black Elk, Mustafa Speaks, Nick Hargrove, Alex Fine, Andrew P. Loga, Irene Bedard, Kim Coates and Shea Whigham.

Tagline:  No one survives alone.

The Plot…

1857.

A wagon train heading into the west is attacked. Isaac Reed, a frontiersman who had been trailing the group manages to get Sara Rowell and her son Devin away to safety.  Abish, a newlywed Morman bride shows courage as the surviving women are killed.  Abish’s life is spared, but she taken captive by one of the Paiutes.  Everyone else is left for dead.

Although badly wounded and partially scalped, Jacob Pratt survives.  Jacob is determined to find his bride Abish.

The attack on the wagon train appeared to be by Native Americans.  Although there were some Paiutes that participated, the massacre was led by a Morman militia.  The Mormans, led by Brigham Young, are determined to make this area of the west, their stronghold.  When it is learned that Abish survived and could identify that Mormans were involved in the raid, a squad is sent to find and kill her.

Bounty hunters are on the trail of Sara Rowell and her son.  Sara is wanted for the murder of a man back east.

As the US calvary prepares for revenge against the Shoshone (thought to have massacred the wagon train), bounty hunters are closing in on Isaac Reed, Sara, Devin, and Two Moon, a young Native American girl who joined their group.  At the same time the Morman soldiers are hunting Abish.

Each group will face more battles with the other groups, wolves, and the elements.  Most will not survive living in American Primeval.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

American Primeval writer Mark L. Smith also wrote The Revenant (2015).

Shea Whigham always raises the bar when he appears in a scene.

Arrows have never appeared so fast and dangerous as they do in this one.

American Primeval (2025) rates 4 of 5 stars.

RIP: David Lynch

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It was announced that David Lynch died today, at the age of 78.  Mr. Lynch had announced last year that he had been diagnosed with emphysema.

After graduating high school, David Lynch decided to study painting.  He studied at the Corcoran School of the Arts and Design in Washington, D.C., the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.  It was at the Pennsylvania Academy where Mr. Lynch made his first short film.  The film was well received and led Mr. Lynch to create other shorts.

A grant from the American Film Institute financed Mr. Lynch’s short, The Grandmother.  David Lynch then moved to LA to begin studying filmmaking at the AFI Conservatory.  While there Mr. Lynch received a $10,000 grant from the AFI to create Eraserhead.  David Lynch raised the additional money required to complete filming through a loan from his father and money he saved by delivering The Wall Street Journal.  After the success of Eraserhead, Mr. Lynch went on to direct Elephant Man.  At that point, Mr. Lynch was well on his way to a long career as a director, writer and producer.  In addition to his television and feature film directing, Mr. Lynch as continued to create shorts, music videos, write and occasionally act.

David Lynch was nominated three times for the Academy Award for Best Director, once for Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium and won an Honorary Academy Award

  • 1981 Nominee – Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium for The Elephant Man, Shared with: Christopher De Vore · Eric Bergren
  • 1981 Nominee – Best Director for The Elephant Man
  • 1987 Nominee – Best Director for Blue Velvet
  • 2002 Nominee – Best Director for Mulholland Drive

Television projects that feature David Lynch include: Twin Peaks (6 episodes); On the Air; Hotel Room (2 episodes) and Muholland Drive (2001).

Feature films that David Lynch directed in include: Eraserhead; The Elephant Man; Dune; Blue Velvet; Twin Peaks; Wild at Heart; Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me; Lost Highway; The Straight Story; Mulholland Drive (1999) and Twin Peaks: The Missing Pieces.

I first heard of David Lynch with his movie Eraserhead.  My favorite David Lynch film is The Elephant Man.

Out thoughts and prayers go out to David Lynch’s family, friends and fans.

“Paradise” starring Sterling K. Brown, Julianne Nicholson & James Marsden – The Second Trailer is Here!

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We have a new trailer for Paradise starring Sterling K. Brown,  Julianne Nicholson and James Marsden.  This looks great.

Deal me in.

Starring Sterling K. Brown, James Marsden, and Julianne Nicholson.

Paradise is set in a serene, wealthy community inhabited by some of the world’s most prominent individuals. But this tranquility explodes when a shocking murder occurs and a high stakes investigation unfolds. Stream #ParadiseHulu on January 28.

“Tarzan Triumphs” (1943) starring Johnny Weissmuller / Z-View

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Tarzan Triumphs (1943)

Director:  Wilhelm Thiele

Screenplay: Carroll Young, Roy Chanslor ; story by Carroll Young; based on characters created by Edgar Rice Burroughs

Stars: Johnny Weissmuller, Frances Gifford, Johnny Sheffield, Stanley Ridges, Sig Ruman, Philip Van Zandt,
Pedro de Cordoba, George Lynn and Cheetah.

Tagline: A new exciting beauty arouses Tarzan’s fighting heart…as ruthless killers from the sky invade his jungle kingdom on a rampage of murder and worse! You’ll see…NEW TARZAN THRILLS by the thousand!

The Plot…

World War II rages, but until now has not reached the jungles of Tarzan.

Until now.

A squad of Nazi paratroopers has taken over the the lost city of Palandrya.  The Nazis are using the citizens as slave labor to mine rare minerals.  When the Nazis kidnap Tarzan’s adopted son, Boy, Tarzan is drawn into the war.

“Ungawa!”

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Tarzan Triumphs was Johnny Weissmuller’s seventh outing as Tarzan.  Those films were made at MGM.  This movie came from RKO.  Along with Weissmuller, the studio got Johnny Sheffield (as Boy) and Cheetah.  Maureen O’Sullivan (who played Jane in the previous films) was under contract with MGM.  That’s why Jane is in England during this film.

World War II was still being fought when Tarzan Triumphs was made.  Sol Lesser, the executive producer of Tarzan Triumphs said it was suggested by the US State Department that having Tarzan fight Nazis would be a great morale builder.

If the fort where Tarzan and Boy are held captive looks familiar, it could be because it was the same set used in Gunga Din.

When it comes to killing Nazis even Boy, Cheeta and Boy’s pet elephant take part.

The final scene with Cheetah “talking” on the radio and Nazis in Germany thinking it is Hitler speaking is classic.

If you like Tarzan films of this era, Tarzan Triumphs is one of the better ones.

Tarzan Triumphs (1943) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Daredevil: Born Again” – The Trailer is Here!

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Daredevil: Born Again looks good.  This is coming from a guy who pretty much stopped watching mainstream superhero movies.  Of course the Daredevil comic (especially under Frank Miller) always leaned heavily into crime stories.

Deal me in.

Marvel Television’s all-new series #DaredevilBornAgain premieres March 4 at 6pm PT/9pm ET. Only on @DisneyPlus.

“Streets of Fire” Trivia!

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Matthew Jackson at Mental Floss presents 14 Epic Facts About ‘Streets of Fire’.  Before you click over to get all the facts and details, here are my three favorites with my thoughts…

  • The film was intended to be part of a trilogy. I would have loved to have seen The Far City and Cody’s Return.  Is it too late?
  • The ending was originally much darker.  In this instance I agree with the studio and Michael Pare: It (the new ending) added honor and nobility to Tom Cody instead of just a guy who will not f******* lose.”
  • Streets of Fire was initially a flop.  Universal Pictures didn’t really know how to market Streets of Fire. It was so unique… an “action-romance-musical-comic book hybrid”.  Thankfully over the years Streets of Fire gained a following.  So… as to the trilogy… is it too late?  Either to revisit the characters now older… or recast and pick up where we left off.

“Landman”: Season 1 (2023) written by Taylor Sheridan; starring Billy Bob Thorton, Demi Moore & John Hamm / Z-View

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Landman: Season 1 (2023)

Created by: Taylor Sheridan, Christian Wallace

Director: Taylor Sheridan (Eps. 1-2); Stephen Kay (Eps. 3-5; 8-10); Michael Friedman  (Eps. 6-7)

Teleplay: Taylor Sheridan (Eps. 1-10)

Stars: Billy Bob Thornton, Ali Larter, Jacob Lofland, Michelle Randolph, Paulina Chavez, Kayla Wallace, Mark Collie, James Jordan, Demi Moore, Jon Hamm, Colm Feore, Mustafa Speaks, Mitchell Slaggert, Alex Meraz, Octavio Rodriguez, Ben Browder, Robyn Lively, Emilio Rivera, Andy García and Michael Peña.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Tommy Norris (Thorton) oversees operations for the M-Tex oil company.  It’s Tommy’s job to make sure everything runs smoothly and the company makes money.  That means Tommy is in charge of it all – from land purchases, hiring and firing of staff, oil well production, dealing with lawsuits, local law, gangs and whatever else might impede M-Tex’s profit margin.

Monty Miller (Hamm) owns M-Tex.  Although he’s a billionaire (on paper), if the oil market crashes, he could lose everything.  If the price of oil stays at the “sweet spot” where oil production can expand and profits are made, Miller will become even richer.  As many people go broke as get rich in the oil business.  And if the rich stay in the business, they risk losing it all.  No wonder Monty Miller has had several heart attacks.

This season Tommy will deal with…

  • … his son Cooper (Lofland) wanting to learn the oil business from the bottom up.  A tragic accident will change everything.
  • … his teenage daughter, Ainsley (Randolph) coming to live with him.  Ainsley is beautiful and loves attention.  Her mother has let her run wild and now it’s too late to tame Ainsley.
  • … his ex-wife, Angela (Larter) wanting to get back together. Angela has always used her good looks to get what she wants. Everyone (including Tommy) knows letting Angela move back in is a bad idea.  Tommy’s just too in love with her not to try.
  • … accidents on the job.  Men get injured and some killed.  Tommy has to navigate making sure the men are taken care of and the company maximizes profits.  These two things don’t always align.
  • … cartels using the oil fields for drug deals.  When a drug shipment is destroyed, the cartel boss tells Tommy the oil company must pay.   This puts a target on Tommy’s back.
  • … a hotshot young attorney, brought in by Monty.  She immediately takes a dislike to Tommy.  He feels the same towards her.
  • … escalating troubles with the cartel.  Jimenez, the midlevel Mexican crime boss, sees Tommy as the problem.  Jimenez is used to eliminating problems.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

We all know Taylor Sheridan can write and direct.  He also attracts others at the top of their fields to assist with those chores when he doesn’t himself.  For Landman Season 1, Sheridan writes every episode and directs the first two.

Stephen Kay helms six of the ten episodes.  Kay is known for directing episodes of The Shield, Sons of Anarchy, The Punisher, Yellowstone, Mayor of Kingstown, Lioness, 1883, 1923 and one of my favorite films, Get Carter (2000).  Michael Friedman directs two episodes of Landman.  He’s known for direction on Lioness and Yellowstone.

The casting from the biggest to the smallest roles is on point.  Standouts include:

  • Billy Bob Thorton was born to play Tommy Norris.  Thorton is an excellent actor, and I’ve loved him in several roles.  This may be my favorite.
  • Ali Larter is excellent in a role that I love to dislike.
  • Michelle Randolph plays Elizabeth Strafford in 1923.  What a different character than the one she plays in Landman.  She’s excellent in both.  I guess that’s why they call it acting.
  • Jacob Lofland is more than holding his own.  I’ve seen Lofland before in Mud and Justified, but in Landman he shines.
  • Paulina Chavez has to walk a fine line in her role.  It would be easy to not like her character, but Chavez is doing a great job to get across the inner struggles of her choices.  The scene with her character telling Tommy she won’t be disrespected is a winner.
  • Kayla Wallace owns her role as the lawyer who goes for the throat in every interaction.  I’d never seen Wallace before in anything, but she’s one to watch.  Check out the scene when she tells the room full of attorneys, “This isn’t a negotiation…”
  • James Jordan is fun to watch.  He has a supporting role in this and Lioness.  He helps make both shows so good.
  • Jon Hamm – who doesn’t enjoy Jon Hamm’s acting.  He brings it every time out.  Hamm is very believable as the billionaire in danger of losing it all, but not afraid to take a risk.  It’d be easy to play this guy either “too cool for school” or “unsure of what to do next” — Hamm has the right mix.
  • Colm Feore – I’ve loved him in every scene he’s in.  Great addition to the show.
  • Michael Peña, Emilio Rivera and Andy García – had small but impactful roles.  It’s always nice when the right people are placed in every role.
  • Demi Moore – I think her role is going to become even more important in Season 2.

Taylor Sheridan has another winner.

Special Ops: Lioness aka Lioness: Season 1 rates 5 of 5 stars.

“Back in Action” starring Jamie Foxx & Cameron Diaz – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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Back in Action starring Jamie Foxx and Cameron Diaz looks like it might be a fun ride.  Since it streams on Netflix, watching will be a no-brainer.

Deal me in.

Years after giving up life as CIA spies to start a family, Emily (Cameron Diaz) and Matt (Jamie Foxx) find themselves dragged back into the world of espionage when their cover is blown.

Release Date: January 17, 2025

Genre: Action, Comedy

CAST: Cameron Diaz, Jamie Foxx

“The Alto Knights” starring Robert De Niro, directed by Barry Levinson – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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The poster and (mainly) the trailer for The Alto Knights has moved that film to the top tier of my “must-see movies” list.  My guess is that a ton of awards are in the future for all involved with this production.

Deal me in.

The most dangerous enemy is an old friend.

#TheAltoKnights starring Robert De Niro – only in theaters March 21.

From Warner Bros. Pictures, “The Alto Knights” stars Academy Award winner Robert De Niro in a dual role, directed by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Barry Levinson.

The film follows two of New York’s most notorious organized crime bosses, Frank Costello (De Niro) and Vito Genovese (De Niro), as they vie for control of the city’s streets. Once the best of friends, petty jealousies and a series of betrayals place them on a deadly collision course that will reshape the Mafia (and America) forever.

“The Alto Knights” was written by Oscar nominee Nicholas Pileggi (“Goodfellas”) and produced by Oscar winner Irwin Winkler (“Rocky,” “Goodfellas”), Levinson, Jason Sosnoff, Charles Winkler and David Winkler, with Mike Drake executive producing.

De Niro stars alongside Debra Messing (“Will & Grace”), Cosmo Jarvis (“Shōgun”), Kathrine Narducci (“The Irishman”), Michael Rispoli (“Billions”), Michael Adler (“Peppermint”), Ed Amatrudo (“Till,” “Nashville”), Joe Bacino (“Kick-Ass”), Anthony J. Gallo (“The Irishman”), Wallace Langham (“Ford v Ferrari”), Louis Mustillo (“Cooper’s Bar,” “Mike & Molly”), Frank Piccirillo, Matt Servitto (“Billions”) and Robert Uricola (“Raging Bull”).

Joining Levinson (“Rainman,” “Dopesick”) behind the camera are Oscar-nominated director of photography Dante Spinotti (“The Insider,” “L.A. Confidential”), production designer Neil Spisak (the “Spider-Man” films, “Dopesick”), Oscar-nominated editor Douglas Crise (“Babel,” “Dopesick”), Oscar-nominated costume designer Jeffrey Kurland (“Bullets Over Broadway,” “Tenet”), award-winning casting director Ellen Chenoweth (“Past Lives”) and composer David Fleming (“Hillbilly Elegy,” “Mr. & Mrs. Smith”).

Warner Bros. Pictures Presents an Irwin Winkler Production, a Barry Levinson Film, “The Alto Knights.” The film will be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures worldwide and released in theaters nationwide on March 21, 2025, and internationally beginning 19 March 2025.