Previews and Reviews that are Z's Views
Rocky & Apollo by Dosbrak!
“Now, when we fought, you had that eye of the tiger, man; the edge! And now you gotta get it back, and the way to get it back is to go back to the beginning. You know what I mean?” – Apollo Creed
SATORI by Don Winslow
First sentence…
Nicholai Hel watched the maple leaf drop from the branch, flutter in the slight breeze, then fall gently to the ground.
The Overview: Beware of Spoilers…
1951. The Korean War rages.
Nicholai Hel, perhaps the most dangerous man in the world, has spent the last three years in solitary confinement in an American prison. Hel is twenty-six, has a genius-level IQ, is fluent in seven languages and is a master of the martial art hoda korosu (“naked kill”).
The C.I.A. offers Hel a chance at freedom. It’s a suicide mission. Hel will pose as an arms dealer, travel to Beijing and kill the Soviet Union’s commissioner to China. If Hel is successful, and if he survives, he will be given a full pardon and enough money to live anywhere he wants.
Hel accepts. What the C.I.A. doesn’t know is Hel has an additional reason to accept besides a chance at freedom. What Hel doesn’t know is that someone in the C.I.A. doesn’t want him to succeed.
+++
SATORI is a prequel to SHIBUMI by by Trevanian, a pseudonym of Rodney William Whitaker.
I had never read SHIBUMI (and plan to correct that), but it didn’t affect my love of SATORI.
A movie adaptation of SHIBUMI is in the works with Chad Stahelski (director of the John Wick movies) set to produce and direct. Stahelski is obviously a fan of the book. In two of his movies (John Wick and Bullet Train) characters are shown reading the novel.
Nicholai Hel is a great protagonist. I would love to see more of his adventures.
Don Winslow’s SATORI gets my highest recommendation.
Rating:
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (2018)
Director: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
Screenplay: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
Stars: Tim Blake Nelson, Clancy Brown, Tyne Daly, James Franco, Stephen Root, Brendan Gleeson, Bill Heck, Grainger Hines, Zoe Kazan, Harry Melling, Liam Neeson, Jonjo O’Neill, Chelcie Ross, Saul Rubinek and Tom Waits.
Tagline: How the West Was Won (more or less)
The Plot…
The Ballad of Buster Scrugs is actually six tales from the post-Civil War west.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs was nominated for three Academy Awards…
Tim Blake Nelson did his own singing and guitar playing. He had to learn to play guitar for the film.
“All Gold Canyon” is based on a story by Jack London. “The Gal Who Got Rattled” inspired by a story by Stewart Edward White.
In “Near Algodones” the bank teller says he gets deposits from Val Verde. Val Verde sounds like a South American country but is a fictional location. Val Verde was a location used in Die Hard, Predator and Commando.
“The Ballad of Buster Scruggs” is my favorite of the six segments. It’s a worthy send-up of singing cowboys and early western troupes. A full-length Buster Scruggs prequel would be a blast.
“Near Algodones” has surprising changes in tone. I ike it! We go from traditional western to comedy (“Pan-shot!”) to drama to action to suspense to traditional western to suspense to comedy (“First time?”) to romance to surprise!
“Meal Ticket” – has an ending that is unexpected and shocking.
“All Gold Canyon” – I didn’t recognize Tom Waits who has a nearly one person showcase.
“The Girl Who Got Rattled” – is the closest of the six stories to be a traditional western. But it’s not really.
“The Mortal Remains” – As the story unfolds, you might see it before the characters in the tale.
Many anthology movies falter when their stories vary in quality. The Ballad of Buster Scruggs doesn’t suffer in that respect. Each tale is entertaining.
It was cool how each segment is presented as part of an old book of short western stories. The art that accompanied each segment was perfect as well.
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (2018) rates 4 of 5 stars.
Steven Fain is a fan artist who occasionally takes commissions. I first saw Fain’s art on a bookmark for Anthony Neil Smith’s character Billy Lafitte (I highly recommend the Lafitte novel series if you like crime/hardboiled fiction). I subscribed to Steven Fain’s substack and saw more of his art which I liked.
So I reached out to request a sketch. I suggested two characters (Stallone from Tulsa King or Get Carter). Steven liked both ideas, so I ordered both!
We Are What We Are (2013)
Director: Jim Mickle
Screenplay: Nick Damici, Jim Mickle; based on the film We Are What We Are written and directed by Jorge Michel Grau
Stars: Bill Sage, Julia Garner, Ambyr Childers, Kelly McGillis, Wyatt Russell and Michael Parks.
Tagline: Blood is the strongest bond.
The Plot…
The Parker family, Frank, his wife Emma, and their three children, Iris, Rose and Rory are a sternly religious family that stays to themselves in their remote mountain home. The family is currently fasting until the date of their annual ritual. When Emma dies unexpectedly while in town, Frank sends Iris and Rose to claim her body. They return home empty-handed. An autopsy is required by the state.
Frank says that Iris and Rose will need to take on their mother’s duties for their family’s upcoming religious ceremony. Meanwhile the town doctor has made a surprising disovery while conducting Emma’s autopsy.
Could the doctor’s discovery have a connection to the human bones found in the mountain creek… and his missing daughter?
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Julia Garner was still a few years away from her breakthough role in Ozark.
Michael Parks is always good. This role is no exception.
The last scenes go a bit over the top for my, uh, taste.
We Are What We Are (2013) rates 2 of 5 stars.
“Momo: The Sam Giancana Story” (2011)
Director: Dimitri Logothetis
Screenplay: Nicholas Celozzi, Dimitri Logothetis
Stars: Jack Palance, Harold J. Stone, Barbara Lang, Edward Platt and Timothy Carey.
Tagline: Full length feature documentary about the life of one of the most notorious mob leaders in history as told by his family.
The Plot…
Sam Giancana rose to become one of the most powerful figures in the underworld. Giancana began a life of crime as a gang member when he was still in his teens. He became known as an excellent getaway driver. But unlike movie wheelmen, Giancana wasn’t hestiant to use a gun. Before he was 21, Giancana was the prime subject in three murder investigations. He wasn’t ever put on trial.
Giancana rose to power because of his willingness to make bold moves and take down those who didn’t come along. Giancana was present at the infamous 1957 organized crime meeting that tipped off authorities that organized crime was widespread and real.
Giancana is credited to have played a major role in getting John F. Kennedy elected. He reportedly worked with the C.I.A. on plans to assassinate Fidel Castro. It is documented that he shared a mistress with JFK and she carried messages back and forth for them. Rumors persist that Giancana was “behind” the Marilyn Monroe “suicide”. He may have been involved in the JFK assassination. Giancana was linked to the RFK assassination. His hatred for RFK is well-documented. Giancana was assassinated just days before he was to testify before a Senate Committee regarding the CIA-Mafia assassination plots.
Sam Giancana’s children present his life story through vintage photos, video, news reports, as well as their own remembrances.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
It’s hard to believe the amount of influence Sam Giancana had. Yet, despite all of his power, he was murdered in his own house by someone close to him.
“Momo: The Sam Giancana Story” (2011) rates 4 of 5 stars.
The Tyson poster and trailer are here. This will be a must-see for me.
Deal me in.
TYSON is a raw four-part documentary that peels back the curtain on Mike Tyson’s explosive life, from a brutal Brooklyn childhood and a meteoric rise to heavyweight glory to the addiction, jail time, public breakdowns, and infamous ear bite that almost ended it all.
Told unfiltered in Tyson’s own words, with never-before-seen material and rare access to his family, friends, and foes, it’s an intimate portrait of greatness, collapse, and a man still confronting the cost of his legacy.
Watch on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/81780624
Al Pacino in The Godfather, Part II (arguably the best sequel ever) by Tom Ralston.
“My father taught me many things here – he taught me in this room. He taught me: keep your friends close, but your enemies closer.” – Michael Corleone
In the Hand of Dante (2025)
Director: Julian Schnabel
Screenplay: Julian Schnabel, Louise Kugelberg; based on IN THE HAND OF DANTE by Nick Tosches.
Stars: Oscar Isaac, Gal Gadot, Gerard Butler, John Malkovich, Louis Cancelmi, Sabrina Impacciatore, Benjamin Clementine, Martin Scorsese, Al Pacino and Jason Momoa.
Tagline: None.
The Plot…
A handwritten copy of The Divine Comedy has been found. If real, the artifact was written by The Divine Comedy’s author Dante Alighieri between 1308 and 1321. If real, the artifact is priceless. If real, Joe Black, a mob boss wants it.
So Joe sends Nick Tosches (a Dante expert), Louie (a killer) and Lefty (another of Joe’s thugs) to retrieve the manuscript.
What could go wrong?
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
I liked the trailer for In the Hand of Dante. Interesting concept and a great cast.
The film jumps back and forth in time between modern day and Dante’s time. I became bored and ultimately, I tapped out. I wasn’t alone. In the Hand of Dante has a 4.9 rating on IMDb, 29% Tomatometer and 38% Popcornmeter at Rotten Tomatoes. Of course your milage may vary.
In the Hand of Dante (2025) rates 1 of 5 stars.
Banshee: Season 1 (2013)
Created by: Jonathan Tropper, David Schickler
Director:
Teleplay:
Stars: Antony Starr, Ivana Miličević, Ulrich Thomsen, Frankie Faison, Hoon Lee, Rus Blackwell, Matt Servitto, Demetrius Grosse, Trieste Kelly Dunn, Matthew Rauch, Rus Blackwell, Ryann Shane, Daniel Ross Owens, Lili Simmons, Anthony Ruivivar and Ben Cross.
Tagline: Good Town. Bad Blood.
The Plot…
A man is released after 15 years in prison. He and his girlfriend, Ana, ripped off a Ukrainian crime boss known as Rabbit for $15 million in diamonds. When the police were closing in, the man led them on a chase so Ana could get away with the loot. The man went to prison.
The woman disappeared. So did the diamonds. Rabbit still wants both… and revenge on the man.
The man heads to Banshee, a small town in Pennsylvania. He expects to find Ana and the diamonds waiting for him. He finds Ana. She’s taken on a new identity as Carrie Hopewell. The new identity was expected. Her married to the town’s D.A. with two children was not.
The ex-con can’t believe it. Ana moved on, got married and had kids.
The ex-con ends up in a small bar on the outskirts of town. He’s drinking a beer with Sugar, the bar’s owner when another man comes in. The man introduces himself as Josh Hood. He’s soon to be sworn in as the new sheriff of Banshee. Turns out Hood was hired over the phone and hasn’t met anyone yet.
As the three men are talking two hoods bust in to rob the bar. Hood engages the two and is killed in a shootout. The ex-con kills the two thieves. As Sugar and the ex-con bury the three bodies, the ex-con tells Sugar his plan — he’s going to take on Josh Hood’s identity and become the new sheriff.
Since no one has met the new sheriff yet, what could go wrong?
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Banshee was created for Cinemax and therefore doesn’t hold back on filming nudity and sexual situations.
Banshee plays out like a really fun crime comic. There are larger than life characters combined with over the top action.
There are enough interesting characters and subplots to keep every episode moving.
Hoon Lee is a hoot as Job. Matthew Rauch as Clay Burton is creepy. He reminds me of an adult Kevin from Sin City.
If you’re willing to go with the concept of an ex-con taking the identity of the new sheriff (that nobody has ever met), you’re in for a fun ride.
Banshee: Season 1 (2013) rates 5 of 5 stars.
Frazetta: Painting with Fire (2003)
Director: Lance Laspina
Stars: Frank Frazetta, Forrest J. Ackerman, John Buscema, Glenn Danzig, Kevin Eastman, Joe Jusko, Dave Stevens, Neal Adams, Al Williamson, Ralph Bakshi, Brom and Bo Derek.
Tagline: None.
The Plot…
Frank Frazetta was an art prodigy. He began working professionally at the age of 16. At first he was doing pencil “clean-ups” for other artists. Before long he was drawing his own work. From 1952 to 1953, he drew Johnny Comet, the syndicated comic strip. In 1954, Frazetta was hired by Al Capp to draw “L’il Abner”. In 1961, Frazetta left Al Capp Studios to search for new opportunities.
Frazetta began to get work. A painting he did of Ringo Starr for MAD magazine led to movie poster work. Frazetta also began painting book covers. His covers for the Conan the Barbarian novel series were groundbreaking. Fans began buying books not for their stories, but because they had a Frazetta cover. Frazetta’s art for Warren Publishing on magazines such as Creepy, Eerie, Blazing Combat, and Vampirella brought in more fans. More book covers, movie posters and private commissions followed.
Later in life Frazetta had a series of strokes that left his right arm and hand paralyzed. So Frazetta taught himself to draw and paint with his left. Even with his left hand, Frazetta’s work was of professional quality.
Frazetta’s work was universally loved by professionals and fans. His legacy will live forever.
Thoughts…
Frazetta’s life story is told through interviews with artists, fans, family members and Frank Frazetta himself.
When I was a child, Frank Frazetta was the first artist I remember kids getting excited about.
Frazetta: Painting with Fire (2003) rates 4 of 5 stars.
Sly Stallone is Rocky Balboa by John Alvin.
“See that look in their eyes, Rock? You gotta get that look back, Rock. Eye of the tiger, man.” – Apollo Creed
Die Hard is one of my all-time favorite movies. Roger Motzkus created an alt poster that is worthy of it.
“Do you really think you have a chance against us, Mr. Cowboy?” – Hans Gruber
The Man With No Name by Patrice Murciano.
“You see, in this world there’s two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig.” – Blondie
American Godfathers: The Five Families (2024)
Director:
Teleplay:
Narrator: Michael Imperioli
Tagline: None.
The Plot…
Members of the Sicilian Mafia immigrate to America and set-up shop in New York City. Prohibition provides opportunities for increased wealth and power. There is a tradition of honor and omerta (a strict code of silence and non-cooperation with legal authorities) that protects the crime families.
As time passes and American born crime bosses rise, the old traditions are lost. Some mafia bosses are more concerned with their personal wealth and public persona. This attracts attention from the FBI and politicians.
The FBI uses RICO statutes for the first time to bring down mafia families.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Michael Imperioli is an excellent choice to narrate the series.
The series does an excellent job of covering the century of organized crime. While there isn’t much new ground broken, there is a lot of acreage to cover.
American Godfathers: The Five Families (2024) rates 4 of 5 stars.
