Category: Celebs

“Dirty Hands” – starring Patrick Muldoon, Denise Richards, Michael Beach and Kevin Interdonato – The Poster and Trailer is Here!  

Posted on by

The poster and trailer for Dirty Hands, starring Patrick Muldoon, Denise Richards, Michael Beach and Kevin Interdonato is here!

Deal me in!

When a routine drug deal goes sideways a kingpin’s son is murdered. The Denton Brothers, Richie (Patrick Muldoon) & Danny (Kevin Interdonato) find themselves in a fight for their lives just to survive the night.

Richie’s girlfriend, Sheila (Denise Richards), struggles between her loyalties to Richie and his boss (Michael Beach) as rival leader, Rodney (Guy Nardulli), and his gang are out for blood.

Dirty Hands is written and directed by American actor/filmmaker Kevin (The Bastard Sons) Interdonato.

Dirty Hands is produced by Peter Dobson, Kevin Interdonato, Nicholas Larrabure and Guy Nardulli. With action scenes by fight coordinator Jason Mello.

“Black Tuesday” (1954) written by Sydney Boehm, starring Edward G. Robinson, Peter Graves & Jean Parker / Z-View

Posted on by

Black Tuesday (1954)

Director: Hugo Fregonese

Screenplay: Sydney Boehm

Stars: Edward G. Robinson, Peter Graves, Jean Parker, Warren Stevens, Jack Kelly, Hal Baylor, James Bell, Vic Perrin, Russell Johnson, Lee Aaker, James Bacon, Harry Bartell, Arthur Batanides, David Bond  and Milburn Stone.

Tagline: Rough… ruthless… real!

The Plot…

Vincent Canelli sits on death row.  In just a few minutes he will walk his last mile.

At least that was what was supposed to happen.

It didn’t.  Canelli with the help of his crime partners, pulled off an exciting, clever and deadly escape.  From death row!

Now Canelli is on the lam with five hostages, the prison priest, the prison doctor, one of the guards who made Canelli’s time in prison miserable and a young reporter covering the execution.  Caneilli has also brought along Peter Manning, another con on death row.

With the entire police force on alert, Canelli and his crew’s odds of escape are low.  Therefore they are willing to kill anyone who tries to stop them.  The police are also ready to shoot to kill.

What chance do the hostages have?

Sound the alarm, there’s been a prison break!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Black Tuesday is surprisingly dark even for noir movies of the era.  It was banned by the Memphis Censor Board because of its brutality.

Black Tuesday, along with Key Largo and Double Indemnity, are my three favorite films starring Edward G. Robinson.

Lee Aaker of Hondo and Rin Tin Tin fame appears uncredited.  Also look for Russell Johnson (best know as The Professor on Gilligan’s Island) as one of the convicts.

Milburn Stone co-stars along with Peter Graves in Black Tuesday.  Graves would go on to fame in the television series Mission Impossible.  Milburn Stone would get his most famous role as Doc on Gunsmoke which starred James Arness.  Arness is brother to Peter Graves.

Hats off to Sydney Boehm for writing such a bold, brutal noir.  Boehm also wrote The Big Heat (one of my all-time favorite films).

Black Tuesday (1954) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“Time Warp: The Greatest Cult Films of All-Time”Parts 1-3” (2020): Part 1 – “Midnight Madness”; Part 2 – “Horror & Sci-Fi”; Part 3 – “Comedy & Camp” / Z-View

Posted on by

Time Warp: The Greatest Cult Films of All-Time, Parts 1 – 3 (2020)

Director: Danny Wolf

Writers: Paul Fishbein, Irv Slifkin, Danny Wolf

Stars: Kevin Pollak, John Waters, Illeana Douglas, Joe Dante, Jeff Goldblum, Michael McKean, Bruce Campbell, Jeff Bridges, Rob Reiner, Gina Gershon, Fran Drescher, John Turturro, Pam Grier, Amy Heckerling, Roger Corman, Joe Morton, Ed Neil, John Sayles, Rob Zombie, John Cleese, Kevin Smith and Sean Young.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Joe Dante, Illeana Douglas, John Waters and Kevin Pollack talk about the all-time best cult movies in a three part series.  Clips from interviews with those who starred in the films are included.

  • Episode 1: Midnight Madness.
    Films covered include: The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Pink Flamingos, The Big Lebowski, Eraserhead, The Warriors, Point Break, and Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!.

 

  • Episode 2: Horror and Sci-Fi
    Films covered include: Horror – Night of the Living Dead and Dawn of the Dead , The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, The Evil Dead, The Devil’s Rejects, Re-Animator, The Human Centipede, Blade Runner, A Clockwork Orange, Death Race 2000, The Brother from Another Planet, Liquid Sky and The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension.

 

  • Episode 3: Comedy and Camp
    Films covered include: Comedy – Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Office Space, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Napoleon Dynamite, Clerks, Kingpin and Super Troopers. Camp – The Room, Showgirls, Plan 9 From Outer Space, Glen or Glenda, Female Trouble, and Beyond the Valley of the Dolls, Hedwig and the Angry Inch and Phantom of the Paradise.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Episode 1 brought back great memories of midnight showings that were popular in the 70s and 80s.  Films that never found an audience, got a second chance with these late night showings.  Fans of the films made them hits.

Episode 2 looks at films that often didn’t do great on their initial release due to bad or little marketing, but found a hard core audience over time.  This was my favorite episode — although I’ll never understand how (and hope to never see) The Human Centipede was greenlit.

Episode 3 explores cult comedies and camp films — movies so bad that they are “good”.  While I don’t think a movie can be so bad it becomes good, Ed Wood’s films are hard to not keep watching once you start.  It’s hard to believe that they’re not comedies and even better to watch with the right crowd.

Time Warp: The Best Cult Films of All-Time, Parts 1 – 3  (2020) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Cape Fear” Trailer is Here – starring starring Javier Bardem, Amy Adams, and Patrick Wilson!

Posted on by

Here’s the trailer for the new Cape Fear mini-series debuting June 5th.

Do we really need a third Cape Fear?  I don’t know, but I asked the same question about the first remake.  But it turned out pretty well and I have high hopes for this reincarnation.

This summer, fear takes hold. Cape Fear premieres June 5 on Apple TV https://apple.co/_CapeFear

A thrilling new series from executive producers Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg starring Javier Bardem, Amy Adams, and Patrick Wilson.

Created for television by Nick Antosca.

Inspired by the 1991 remake directed by Martin Scorsese and produced by Steven Spielberg, a storm is coming for happily married attorneys Anna (Amy Adams) and Tom Bowden (Patrick Wilson) when Max Cady (Javier Bardem), the notorious killer they are responsible for putting behind bars, is let out of prison — and he wants vengeance.

Hailing from UCP, a division of Universal Studio Group, and Amblin Television, “Cape Fear” is based on both the novel “The Executioners,” which inspired Gregory Peck’s Universal Pictures feature (1962) of the same name, as well as the acclaimed 1991 remake directed by Scorsese.

The series is executive produced by Steven Spielberg, who produced the 1991 film, alongside Scorsese.

Creator Nick Antosca showruns and produces alongside Alex Hedlund for Eat The Cat, and Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey produce alongside Spielberg for Amblin Television. Academy Award nominee Morten Tyldum will direct the pilot and serve as executive producer. The series is developed and produced through Antosca’s overall deal at UCP, where he’s been based since 2017.

“Tear the Roof Off-the Untold Story of Parliament Funkadelic” (2016) / Z-View

Posted on by

Tear the Roof Off-the Untold Story of Parliament Funkadelic (2016)

Director: Bobby J. Brown

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

In the late 1950s, George Clinton formed and led a doo-wop group he called The Parliaments.  In 1968, while leading The Parliaments, Clinton formed another group using the backup singers for The Parliaments.  This second band was named Funkadelic.

Seeing the popularity of the two bands, and using his experience as a producer-writer-frontman, Clinton moved to Detroit and talked the band members into coming along.  The Parliaments morphed from doo-wop to become a funk band with members creating sci-fi inspired personas.  Meanwhile Funkadelic developed a sound that blended funk with psychedelic rock.

As both bands popularity grew, so did Clinton’s influence over the band members.  Clinton ultimately combined both bands who performed under the named name Parliament-Funkadelic.  This new band, led by Clinton, had a rotating roster of musicians.  Clinton furthered his producing power by creating two female bands, Brides of Fukenstein and Parlet.

Clinton was on top of the world.  His bands were popular, they were creating hits and the money was rolling in.

But all was not good.  Allegations came that Clinton was using his power and influence to pay band members in drugs, partially or not at all.  Further allegations of female band members being sexually abused.

This is that story.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

When I was in high school Clinton’s funk bands were popular.  I liked some of their songs, but didn’t know much about them.  When I saw the trailer for the documentary I was intrigued.

Even the musicians claiming that Clinton did them wrong, also called him a great showman and a musical genius.  But as one band member said, “…a genius can be a liar and a thief.”  Another claimed his signature was forged on a contract.  A female singer said she was beaten and raped.

By the late 1970s, although these stories weren’t known by the general public, many (most?) of the band members left the group.  Casablanca Records, Clinton’s label folded due to financial problems.  In the early 80s,  Clinton had financial problems of his own as well as a drug problem.

Sadly, stories like George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic’s rise and fall happens all too often in showbiz.

Tear the Roof Off-the Untold Story of Parliament Funkadelic (2016) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Hondo”(1953) starring John Wayne, Geraldine Page, Ward Bond, Michael Pate and James Arness / Z-View

Posted on by

Hondo (1953)

Director: John Farrow, John Ford (uncredited, final scenes only)

Screenplay: James Edward Grant; based on The Gift of Cochise by Louis L’Amour

Stars: John Wayne, Geraldine Page, Ward Bond, Michael Pate, Leo Gordon, Tom Irish, Lee Aaker, Paul Fix, Rayford Barnes,Frank McGrath, Chuck Roberson and James Arness.

Tagline: First she was afraid he’d stay—then she was afraid he wouldn’t.

The Plot…

Hondo Lane, a US Calvary dispatch rider, discovers a woman named Angie and her young son living alone on the frontier at the edge of Indian territory.  The woman says her husband is due back any day.  The truth is her husband has been gone for far too long.  He may be dead or perhaps he just took off.

Because the Apache Vittorio is threatening war, Hondo offers to take Angie and her son to the nearest Calvary fort.  Angie refuses.  She doesn’t believe the Apache will go to war.

She is wrong.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Hondo was nominated for two 1954 Academy Awards.

  • Nominee for Best Actress in a Supporting Role – Geraldine Page
  • Nominee Best Writing, Motion Picture Story – Louis L’Amour

Louis L’Amour won a nomination for Best Writing, Motion Picture Story.  Both L’Amour and the producer of Hondo questioned the honor.  They pointed out that the Hondo screenplay was based on L’Amour’s short story.  Therefore the nomination was withdrawn and only four films were list in this category on the final Oscar voting ballot.

Pal, the dog that played Sam, was the original screen Lassie.

John Wayne produced Hondo.  Wayne wanted Glenn Ford to star.  Ford didn’t care for director, John Farrow and turned down the opportunity.  So Wayne decided to take on the role.

John Ford directed the battle scenes at the end of the movie. John Farrow had to leave due to another film commitment. Ford, uncredited, took over as a favor to John Wayne.

Hondo was originally released in 3D.

Hondo gets better with every viewing.

Hondo (1953) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“The Boys from Brazil” (1978) starring Gregory Peck, Laurence Olivier and James Mason / Z-View

Posted on by

The Boys from Brazil (1978)

Director: Franklin J. Schaffner

Screenplay: Heywood Gould; based on THE BOYS FROM BRAZIL by Ira Levin

Stars: Gregory Peck, Laurence Olivier, James Mason, Denholm Elliott, Rosemary Harris, John Dehner, John Rubinstein, Anne Meara, Walter Gotell, David Hurst, Wolfgang Preiss, Michael Gough, Joachim Hansen and Steve Guttenberg.

Tagline: If they survive…will we?

The Plot…

Barry Kohler, a young Nazi hunter discovers that Josef Mengele is still alive.  Worse still, Mengele is part of a secret organization to bring back the Third Reich.  Kohler reaches out to Ezra Lieberman, an elderly but famous Nazi hunter.  Lierberman doesn’t believe Kohler.

But when Kohler is murdered, Lierberman discovers that Kohler was right.

And Mengele’s plan is even more sinister.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The Boys from Brazil was nominated for three 1979 Academy Awards.

  • Nominee for Best Actor in a Leading Role – Laurence Olivier
  • Nominee Best Film Editing – Robert Swink
  • Nominee for Best Music, Original Score – Jerry Goldsmith

George C. Scott was originally cast as Mengele.  He dropped out before filming began.

Because of Laurence Olivier’s declining health the fight scene between he and Gregory Peck took several days to film.  Both Olivier and Peck that it humorous that at their age they were rolling around on the floor.

Jeremy Black, who played the young Hitler clones, received an “introducing” credit.  Ironically, The Boys from Brazil features his first and last acting role.

The Boys from Brazil (1978) rates 3 of 5 stars.

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (1994), directed by Kenneth Branagh, starring Robert De Niro, Kenneth Branagh and Helena Bonham Carter / Z-View

Posted on by

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (1994)

Director: Kenneth Branagh

Screenplay: Steph Lady, Frank Darabont; based on FRANKENSTEIN: or THE MODERN PROMETHEUS by Mary Shelley

Stars: Robert De Niro, Kenneth Branagh, Tom Hulce, Helena Bonham Carter, Aidan Quinn, Ian Holm, Robert Hardy, Cherie Lunghi and John Cleese.

Tagline: Be warned. It’s alive.

The Plot…

1794. Captain Walton, leading an expedition to the North Pole, is in a bad way.  His ship has become trapped in ice. While attempting to free the vessel, the crew hears a frightening scream somewhere in the mist that surrounds them.  Suddenly a man appears and calls for the men to grab their weapons and come with him.

The crew grab their guns and begin to move forward.  Their dogs run ahead, disappearing into the mist.  Within seconds they hear the cries of their dogs being killed.

The men retreat to the ship.  As his crew stands guard Captain Walton and the man talk.  The stranger says that he created the creature in the mist, and that his name is Victor Frankenstein.

This is his (and the creature’s) story…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein earned a 1995 Academy Award nomination for Best Makeup – Daniel Parker, Paul Engelen, Carol Hemming

Francis Ford Coppola bought Steph Lady’s screenplay with the intent to direct the film as a follow-up to his Dracula film.  When Coppola decided to just serve as the film’s producer, he insisted that Robert DeNiro play the creature.

DeNiro chose Kenneth Branagh to direct.  Branagh brought in Frank Darabont to create a second draft of the screenplay.  Branagh wanted the film to include a “recreated bride” which doesn’t happen in Shelley’s novel.

Coppola didn’t like many of the choices Branagh made and their were multiple disagreements during filming.  Coppola wanted to recut the film, but Branagh refused.  Coppola went on record denouncing the film.

Coppola wasn’t the only creative who worked on the film that didn’t care for the finished movie.  Frank Darabont said in interviews that he didn’t care for the movie and that Kenneth Branagh mishandled the material, and made changes to the screenplay.

Kenneth Branagh was married to actress Emma Thompson, but during filming of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, began an affair with his co-star Helena Bonham Carter.  Thompson divorced Branagh in 1997 and he continued his affair with Carter until their breakup in 1999.

A four-issue comic book adaptation was published by Topps.  It was written by Roy Thomas and drawn by Rafael Kayanan.

DeNiro as the creature didn’t work for me.  I could only see DeNiro in make-up and not a creature reanimated from dead bodies.

The screen loves Helena Bonham Carter, so her rebirth as “the Bride” is shocking — especially since she doesn’t (and legally couldn’t) look like the classic Universal Bride.

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (1994) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Wind River” (2017) written & directed by Taylor Sheridan, starring Jeremy Renner & Elizabeth Olsen / Z-View

Posted on by

Wind River (2017)

Director: Taylor Sheridan

Screenplay: Taylor Sheridan

Stars: Jeremy Renner, Elizabeth Olsen, Jon Bernthal, James Jordan, Kelsey Asbille, Julia Jones, Teo Briones, Apesanahkwat, Tantoo Cardinal, Eric Lange, Gil Birmingham, Tokala Black Elk, Gil Birmingham, Martin Sensmeier, Austin R. Grant, Ian Bohen and Graham Greene.

Tagline: Nothing is harder to track than the truth.

The Plot…

When Natalie Hanson’s frozen dead body is found on the Wind River Indian Reservation after a brutal snow, rookie FBI Agent Jane Banner is sent in to investigate.

The autopsy reveals signs of rape and blunt trauma, but because Natalie died from a pulmonary hemorrhage caused by breathing subzero air, the coroner can not list the cause of death as murder.  That means that Agent Banner is unable to get additional support to investigate Natalie’s death.

Agent Banner knows she’s in over her head.  She is new to the area.  The customs and ways of life of the Northern Arapaho tribe who live on the reservation are alien to her.  So Agent Banner turns to Cory Lambert for assistance.  Lambert is the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Agent who found Natalie’s body.  Lambert is an expert tracker and knows the people having been married to a Northern Arapaho woman.

Banner and Lambert begin to backtrack Natalie’s last hours.  The will uncover another murder and conspiracy that leaves them outnumbered and on their own.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Wind River was filmed on location with some scenes filmed in real blizzard conditions.

Wind River is the first screenplay that he didn’t write on spec.  Both Sicario and Hell or High Water were written on spec.

Wind River is a bit of a slow burn.  But the amazing cast, the ultimate reveal of Natalie’s murder and the explosive gun battle after the sudden standoff are <chef’s kiss>.

Wind River (2017) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Glengarry Glen Ross” (1992) written by David Mamet, directed by James Foley, starring Al Pacino, Jack Lemmon, Alan Arkin, Ed Harris, Kevin Spacey, Jonathan Pryce and Alec Baldwin / Z-View

Posted on by

Glengarry Glen Ross (1992)

Director: James Foley

Screenplay: David Mamet; based on his play Glengarry Glen Ross

Stars: Al Pacino, Jack Lemmon, Alan Arkin, Ed Harris, Kevin Spacey, Jonathan Pryce, Bruce Altman, Jude Ciccolella and Alec Baldwin.

Tagline: Lie. Cheat. Steal. All in a day’s work.

The Plot…

Richard “Ricky” Roma, George Aaronow, Shelley “The Machine” Levene, and Dave Moss are real estate salesmen in a small office for a company that makes big promises. Despite lies and questionable tactics by all the men, sales are down.   Of late only Ricky Roma has been able to close deals.

With one week in the month left, the office manager John Williamson, says that the company is sending in Blake, their top salesman to inspire them.  Blake arrives and immediately begins talking.  Blake insults and attacks each worker’s salemenship and manhood.  Blake says that in one week, the top saleman for the office will win a car.  Second place gets a set of steak knives.  Third and fourth place winners will be fired.

And he’s serious.

Blake then leaves.  Ricky, George, Shelley, and Dave Moss are shocked.  Then angry.  Each man complains that the leads Williamson gives them are crap.  The leads have been repeatedly used.  The people on the leads have no money or no interest and have been called on several times.  Williamson doesn’t disagree.  You get what you get.  BUT, the two men show survive the month will next month get new leads.  These leads will be for the new  Glengarry development.

The Glengarry development is sweet.  It almost sells itself.  Those leads are worth their weight in gold.

Ricky is in a great position to win the car.  George, Shelley and Dave are all in danger of losing their jobs.  Each man has reason to do whatever it takes to survive.

And one will.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Al Pacino was nominated for a 1993 Best Supporting Actor Oscar.

Jack Lemmon gives the performance of a lifetime.  Same could be said for Alec Baldwin.  Kudos also to Alan Arkin, Ed Harris, Kevin Spacey and Jonathan Pryce who more than hold their own.

Glengarry Glen Ross is a showcase for great acting.  Jack Lemmon said Glengarry Glen Ross featured the greatest acting ensemble he had ever been part of.  High praise indeed.

Glengarry Glen Ross gets my highest recommendation.

Glengarry Glen Ross (1992) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“Honey Don’t” (2025) directed by Ethan Coen, starring Margaret Qualley, Aubrey Plaza, Charlie Day and Chris Evans / Z-View

Posted on by

Honey Don’t (2025)

Director: Ethan Coen

Screenplay: Ethan Coen, Tricia Cooke

Stars: Margaret Qualley, Aubrey Plaza, Chris Evans, Charlie Day, Kristen Connolly, Don Swayze, Christian Antidormi, Billy Eichner, Kinna McInroe and Gabby Beans.

Tagline: She only has two desires, and one of them is justice.

The Plot…

Honey O’Donahue learns that Mia Novotny was found stabbed to death.  Honey is a private investigator who Mia had planned to meet the following day.  When Mia called Honey she said she couldn’t go to the police and was afraid.

Obviously for good reason.

Honey is determined to find Mia’s killer.  The clues will lead to the Four-Way Temple led by Reverend Drew Devlin.  Devlin is interested in a lot more than saving souls.  Devlin also has another money-making enterprise that could have something to do with Mia’s murder.

Honey won’t rest until she finds Mia’s assassin… even if it kills her.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I loved the film’s creative use of opening credits.

Margaret Qualley, the star of Honey Don’t, is the daughter of actress Andie MacDowell.  They look so much alike they could be twins.

The film earns an “R” rating because it doesn’t shy away during the lesbian sex scenes.

Honey Don’t (2025) rates 3 of 5 stars.