Category: Celebs

“Daylight” (1998) starring Sylvester Stallone and Amy Brenneman / Z-View

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Daylight (1998) 

Director: Rob Cohen

Screenplay: Leslie Bohem

Stars: Sylvester Stallone, Amy Brenneman, Viggo Mortensen, Dan Hedaya, Jay O. Sanders, Karen Young, Claire Bloom, Barry Newman, Stan Shaw, Vanessa Bell Calloway, Renoly Santiago, Renoly Santiago, Danielle Harris, Trina McGee, Marcello Thedford, Jo Anderson, Mark Rolston, Rosemary Forsyth, Luoyong Wang, Tony Munafo, Nestor Serrano, Rob Cohen  and Sage Stallone

Tagline: HOLD YOUR BREATH

The Plot…

When an explosion seals a tunnel beneath the Hudson River, time is running out for the few survivors.  Despite it being a suicide mission, ex-NYC Medical Services Chief Kit Latura (Stallone) goes in.  As the air dwindles, the water levels rise and tempers flare, Latura and the survivors search for a way out.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Daylight was nominated for one Academy Award

  • nominee Best Effects, Sound Effects Editing – Richard L. Anderson, David A. Whittaker

Daylight is the second time that Sly and his son Sage appeared together in a movie.

Cameos include: director Rob Cohen as a businessman and Associate Producer Tony Munafo as a waste truck driver.

Stan Shaw, who plays a Transit cop trapped in the tunnel also played the boxer named Dipper who gets Rocky’s locker in Rocky.

Daylight is a throwback to the disaster movies like The Poseidon Adventure, Earthquake and The Towering Inferno.

Daylight (1998)  rates 4 of 5 stars.

“The Last Front” – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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1992 looks like a winner.  Has Tyrese Gibson ever come across so thuggish?  Plus one of Ray Liotta’s last performances.

From writer/director Julien Hayet-Kerknawi, starring Iain Glen, Sasha Luss, Julian Kostov and James Downie.

THE LAST FRONT – In Theatres August 9

RELEASE DATE: August 9
DIRECTOR: Julien Hayet-Kerknawi
CAST: Iain Glen, Sasha Luss, James Downie, Julian Kostov

“Last Man Standing” (1996) written & directed by Walter Hill, starring Bruce Willis / Z-View

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Last Man Standing (1996) 

Director: Walter Hill

Screenplay: Walter Hill based on Yojimbo by Akira Kurosawa

Stars: Bruce Willis, Bruce Dern, William Sanderson, Christopher Walken, David Patrick Kelly, Ned Eisenberg, Alexandra Powers, Ken Jenkins, Ted Markland, Leslie Mann, Patrick Kilpatrick, Luis Contreras, Raynor Scheine, Tiny Ron, John Paxton, Michael Cavalieri, Matt O’Toole and Michael Imperioli

Tagline: There are two sides to every war. And John Smith is on both of them.

The Plot…

John Smith (Willis), a prohibition gun thug, is on the lam.  Smith is headed for Mexico when he stops in a small nearly deserted border town.  Two rival gangs, one Italian, the other Irish, have run most of the townsfolk off.  The two crews have an uneasy truce.  But both gangs are looking for a way to wipe out the other.

John Smith sees easy money in his future.  It’s risky, but Smith plans to work both sides with neither realizing it.  The best laid plans…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Last Man Standing, like A Fistful of Dollars, is based on the Japanese film Yojimbo directed and co-written by Akira Kurosawa.  Many think that Kurosawa based his story on Dashiell Hammett’s RED HARVEST.  Kurosawa says that his film was actually based on Hammett’s THE GLASS KEY.

Last Man Standing has a John Woo feel to it.

Last Man Standing (1996)  rates 3 of 5 stars.

RIP: Robert Towne

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Robert Towne died peacefully at his home on Monday, July 1, 2024.  Mr. Towne was 89.

Robert Towne was a writer, actor, director and producer.  He was nominated for four Academy Awards and won one:

  • nominee 1974 Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium – The Last Detail
  • winner 1975 Best Writing, Original Screenplay – Chinatown
  • nominee 1976 Best Original Screenplay – Shampoo (shared with: Warren Beatty)
  • nominee 1985 Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium – Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes (shared with Michael Austin)

After graduating from Pomona College in Claremont, California, Robert Towne decided to pursue a career as an actor and writer.  In one of Mr. Towne’s acting classes he met Jack Nicholson (who became his roommate), Roger Corman, Irvin Kershner and Sally Kellerman.

Roger Corman financed and directed Robert Towne’s first feature film, Last Woman on Earth.  Mr. Town also served as one of the film’s stars.  The following year, Robert Towne was one of the stars (but not the writer) of the Corman directed, Creature from the Haunted Sea.  Robert Towne then began to get work writing for television.  As his reputation as a “script doctor” grew, Mr. Towne would often be called in to beef up a script, many times with no credit, but a nice payday.  Mr. Towne moved away from acting and television writing to focus on feature films with occasional directing and producing duties for the rest of his career.

Television projects that feature Robert Towne’s writing include: The Lloyd Bridges Show (4 episodes); Breaking Point; The Outer Limits; The Man from U.N.C.L.E. and Welcome to the Basement (2 episodes).

Feature film projects that feature Robert Towne’s writing include: Last Woman on Earth; The Tomb of Ligeia; Bonnie and Clyde (uncredited); Villa Rides; McCabe & Mrs. Miller (uncredited); Cisco Pike (uncredited); The New Centurions (uncredited); The Last Detail; The Parallax View (uncredited); Chinatown; The Yakuza; Shampoo; The Missouri Breaks (uncredited); Orca (uncredited); Heaven Can Wait (uncredited); Personal Best; Deal of the Century (uncredited); Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes (as P.H. Vazak); 8 Million Ways to Die (uncredited); Tough Guys Don’t Dance (uncredited); Frantic (uncredited); Tequila Sunrise; Days of Thunder; The Two Jakes; The Firm; Love Affair; Mission Impossible II and Ask the Dusk.

Some of Robert Towne’s acting projects include: Last Woman on Earth; Creature from the Haunted Sea; The Zodiac Killer; Drive, He Said; Shampoo; The Pick-up Artist and Suspect Zero.

Projects that feature Robert Towne’s directing include: Personal Best; Tequila Sunrise; Without Limits and Ask the Dust.

My favorite films featuring writing by Robert Towne include Chinatown; The Yakuza; Tequila Sunrise and Mission Impossible II.  I’m also a fan of Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes.  Mr. Towne hoped to direct it, but things didn’t work out and so he had his credit changed to P.H. Vazak (his dog’s name).  Until today, I didn’t realize just how many uncredited projects were on Robert Towne’s resume.  It’s testament to his talent that he was often called in when there was trouble with a script.

Out thoughts and prayers go out to Robert Towne’s family, friends and fans.

“1992” starring Tyrese Gibson, Scott Eastwood & Ray Liotta – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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1992 looks like a winner.  Has Tyrese Gibson ever come across so thuggish?  Plus one of Ray Liotta’s last performances.

A father (Tyrese Gibson) becomes entangled in a risky heist while trying to save his son from criminals (Ray Liotta and Scott Eastwood) during the 1992 LA uprising.

RELEASE DATE: August 30, 2024

CAST: Tyrese Gibson, Clé Bennett, Dylan Arnold, Christopher A’mmanuel, Michael Beasley, Ori Pfeffer, Tosin Morohunfola, Oleg Taktarov, with Scott Eastwood, and Ray Liotta

“Atlas” (2024) starring Jennifer Lopez / Z-View

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Atlas (2024) 

Director: Brad Peyton

Screenplay:  Leo Sardarian, Aron Eli Coleite

Stars: Jennifer Lopez, Simu Liu, Sterling K. Brown, Paul Ganus, Zoe Boyle, Gloria Cole and Mark Strong

Tagline: The future of humanity is in her hands

The Plot…

In the future, Harlan (Liu), an AI soldier begins a war against humanity.  Millions of people are killed before nations of the world join forces.  The tide turns, but Harlan escapes.  Years later Harlan is discovered on a planet in deep space.

A military expedition is sent to capture Harlan.  Atlas Shepherd (Lopez), the daughter of Harlan’s creator demands to accompany the soldiers.  Atlas is given clearance.

As the military team begins descent to the planet, they are attacked.  Atlas is the sole survivor thanks to her battle suit’s AI technology.  Realizing that her AI powered armor could turn on her, Atlas’ first instinct is to shut it down.  But if she wants to survive…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Much of Atlas felt like I was watching a video game not a movie.

Why not just leave Harlan alone?  He’s millions of miles away.

Sterling K. Brown is always a welcome addition to any movie.

Atlas (2024)  rates 2 of 5 stars.

“Bad Boys: Ride or Die’ (2024) starring Will Smith & Martin Lawrence / Z-View

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Bad Boys: Ride or Die (2024) 

Director: Adil & Bilall

Screenplay:  Chris Bremner, Will Beall, based on characters by George Gallo

Stars: Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, Eric Dane, Vanessa Hudgens, Alexander Ludwig, Paola Núñez, Ioan Gruffudd, Jacob Scipio, Melanie Liburd, Tasha Smith, Rhea Seehorn, Dennis McDonald, Tiffany Haddish, Joe Pantoliano, DJ Khaled, John Salley, Bianca Bethune and Michael Bay

Tagline: Miami’s finest are now its most wanted.

The Plot…

Reports come out posthumously that Captain Howard (Pantoliano) was a corrupt cop working with a drug cartel. Detectives Mike Lowrey (Smith) and Marcus Burnett (Lawrence) know that isn’t true.  They decide to clear Captain Howard’s name.

Mike and Marcus learn that Captain Howard left behind information listing the corrupt state and federal cops.  As they follow the evidence, Mike and Marcus are targeted for execution. Our Bad Boys are framed for murder.  Now there is a manhunt for them.  Both police and crooked cops are ready to shoot to kill.

The question now is… Bad Boys, Bad Boys, what ‘cha gonna do when they come for you?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

There’s a fun subplot where Marcus, after waking up from a coma, believes he cannot die.

Eric Dane makes a great villain.  Wish he had more scenes.  Rhea Seehorn also needed more screen time.

Jacob Scipio has the makings of an action star.

Michael Bay, who directed Bad Boys 1 and 2 has a cameo as an upset motorist.

Bad Boys: Ride of Die is a fun run.  If you’re fans of the previous films, you should enjoy this one.  The comedy got to be a bit over the top for me and the plot was pretty by-the-numbers.  Still, I ain’t complaining – when the Bad Boys mount up, I ride.

Bad Boys: Ride or Die (2024)  rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Trap” – The 2nd Trailer is Here!

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The more I see about Trap the more I like it.

30,000 Fans.
300 Cops.
1 Serial Killer.
No Escape. #TrapMovie only in theaters August 2.

Original songs by Saleka as Lady Raven. Pre-order the album and listen to “Release” available now: https://saleka.lnk.to/ladyravenWarner Bros. Pictures presents a new experience in the world of M. Night Shyamalan —“Trap”— featuring performances by rising music star Saleka Shyamalan.

A father and teen daughter attend a pop concert, where they realize they’re at the center of a dark and sinister event.

Written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan, “Trap” stars Josh Hartnett, Ariel Donoghue, Saleka Shyamalan, Hayley Mills and Allison Pill. The film is produced by Ashwin Rajan, Marc Bienstock and M. Night Shyamalan. The executive producer is Steven Schneider.

“A Quiet Place: Day One” (2024) written and directed by Michael Sarnoski, starring Lupita Nyong’o & Joseph Quinn / Z-View

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A Quiet Place: Day One (2024) 

Director: Michael Sarnoski

Screenplay:  Michael Sarnoski, story by John Krasinski, Michael Sarnoski, based on characters by Bryan Woods, Scott Beck

Stars: Lupita Nyong’o, Joseph Quinn, Alex Wolff and Djimon Hounsou

Tagline: Stay quiet. Stay alive.

The Plot…

Samira (Nyong’o) has terminal cancer.  She reluctantly joins her hospice group for a trip into New York City.  While there an alien invasion begins.  Separated from her group, Samira struggles to survive.  The creatures are deadly, but blind with hearing sensitive to the smallest sound.

What chance does anyone have of surviving?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The first day of any “apocalypse” should be the most interesting.  People from different backgrounds are thrown together.  Everyone is trying to figure out what is going on.  No one is sure of the right things to do.  It was a smart move to take us back to Day One of the alien invasion.

It was even smarter to have Djimon Hounsou reprise his role from A Quiet Place Part II.

Lupita Nyong’o reaffirms what an excellent actress she is.

A Quiet Place: Day One (2024) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Way of the Gun” (2000) written & directed by Christopher McQuarrie, starring Ryan Phillippe, Benicio Del Toro, Juliette Lewis, Taye Diggs & James Caan / Z-View

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Way of the Gun (2000) 

Director: Christopher McQuarrie

Screenplay: Christopher McQuarrie

Stars: Ryan Phillippe, Benicio Del Toro, Juliette Lewis, Taye Diggs, Nicky Katt, Geoffrey Lewis, Dylan Kussman, Scott Wilson, Kristin Lehman, Armando Guerrero, Sarah Silverman and James Caan

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Parker (Phillippe) and Longbaugh (Del Toro) are two  low-life criminals just barely getting by.  When they learn about a rich couple paying a surrogate mother one million bucks for carrying their child, they see a big payday.  They’ll kidnap the mother and hold her for hostage.  What Parker and Longbaugh don’t know is that the baby’s father is a powerful criminal.

The best laid plans…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Way of the Gun is well written, well directed, well cast and well acted.  With that said, it is also vulgar and violent.  The two main characters are not good people.  Yet, Way of the Gun is a movie that I truly love.  If you can get past the opening scenes, the story and acting will draw you in.  Way of the Gun isn’t your typical Hollywood movie.

Way of the Gun has an unusual car chase that goes from high speed to a walking pace.  The idea was Del Toro’s who said he saw the same thing on an episode of Cops.

The gun handling and gun fight scenes were supervised by a Navy SEAL and are accurate to every bullet fired and where it went… except for one part of the final shootout.  In that instance the director wanted to wink at how most movie gunfights never reload.

Parker and Longbaugh were the real names of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.  The final shootout in Way of the Gun was filmed in the same location as the final gun battle in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.

James Caan is awesome in this film.  It is one of my favorite Caan performances.  It’s interesting to note that Caan plays Juliette Lewis’ father in this film.  Her real father, Geoffrey Lewis also appears in the movie.

Way of the Gun (2000)  rates 5 of 5 stars.

RIP: Martin Mull

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Martin Mull died Thursday, June 27, 2024.  Mr. Mull was 80.

After high school, Martin Mull attended the Rhode Island School of Design.  He graduated from there with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and also a Master of Fine Arts in painting degree.  Although most know Martin Mull for his comedic acting, he broke into show business as a musical comedian.  He wrote “A Girl Named Johnny Cash” which peaked at 61 on the Country Charts in 1970.  In 1972, Martin Mull’s first album was released.  Between 1972 and 1979, Martin Mull had eight albums released.  In 1998, his last album premiered.  Martin Mull was cast in Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman in 1976.  This launched Mr. Mull into a new career as an actor in television and feature film roles.

Television appearances of Martin Mull include: Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman (46 episodes); Fernwood Tonight (54 episodes); Wonder Woman; Laugh In (1977 – 78, 3 episodes); America 2-Night (65 episodes); Taxi; The Chevy Chase National Humor Test; Square Pegs; The Jerk, Too; Domestic Life (10 episodes); Lots of Luck; California Girls; The Magical World of Disney; TV 101 (2 episodes); It’s Gary Shandling’s Show (4 episodes); His & Hers (13 episodes); The Golden Girls; Dream On; The Jackie Thomas Show (18 episodes); Family Dog (10 episodes); The Larry Sanders Show (2 episodes); L.A. Law; Burke’s Law; Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman; The Drew Carey Show; Roseanne (46 episodes); The Simpsons; Family Guy; Sabrina the Teenage Witch (73 episodes); The Wild Thornberrys; Twice in a Lifetime; Recess (2 episodes); The Geena Davis Show; Dexter’s Laboratory; Teamo Supremo (10 episodes); The Ellen Show (18 episodes); Reba; Life with Bonnie (3 episodes); The Nick at Night Holiday Special; Reno 911; Danny Phantom (14 episodes); The War at Home (3 episodes); Gary Unmarried (2 episodes); My Boys (2 episodes); ‘Til Death (12 episodes); Mad Love; American Dad! (10 episodes); Two and a Half Men (6 episodes); Psych; Dads (19 episodes); Community (2 episodes); Veep (4 episodes); NICS: Los Angeles; Life in Pieces (4 episodes); I’m Sorry (7 episodes); Arrested Development (6 episodes); The Cool Kids (22 episodes); The Ranch (13 episodes); Brooklyn Nine-Nine; Not Dead Yet (3 episodes) and The Afterparty (2 episodes).

Feature film appearances of Martin Mull include: FM; Serial; My Bodyguard; Take This Job and Shove It; Mr. Mom; Clue; The Player; Mrs. Doubtfire and Jingle All the Way.

I first saw Martin Mull in Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman.  Mr. Mull was either a natural born comedian or he learned to make his comedy seem so natural.  What an amazing career he had making every project he was in better.

Out thoughts and prayers go out to Martin Mull’s family, friends and fans.

“Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1” (2024) directed & starring Kevin Costner / Z-View

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Director: Kevin Costner

Screenplay: Jon Baird, Kevin Costner, story by Jon Baird, Kevin Costner, Mark Kasdan

Stars: Kevin Costner, Sienna Miller, Sam Worthington, Jena Malone, Owen Crow Shoe, Tatanka Means, Tim Guinee, Giovanni Ribisi, Danny Huston, Colin Cunningham, Scott Haze, Tom Payne, Abbey Lee, Michael Rooker, Will Patton, Jim Lau, Georgia MacPhail, Hayes Costner, Luke Wilson, James Russo, Jon Beavers, Dale Dickey, Charles Halford, Jamie Campbell Bower, Austin R. Grant, Ariel Llinas, David O’Hara and Jeff Fahey

Tagline: The story of a nation unsettled.

The Plot…

Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 looks at the lives of those attempting to move west and settle on land already held by native Americans.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 is, as the title indicates, part one of a four part story.  The movie doesn’t have traditional pacing or character arcs.  If you know this going in, you shouldn’t be disappointed when the film ends, since the story will continue.  However, if you go in expecting a complete story, you’ll be let down.

My expectation was we would get a big story with Kevin Costner playing the main character who interacts with a large cast.  This isn’t the case.  Costner doesn’t even make an appearance until 66 minutes into the movie.  There are multiple storylines in Horizon, Chapter 1 and Costner’s is just one.

The writing, acting and direction are all superb.  Many familiar faces appear throughout the film.  Jamie Campbell Bower and Jon Beavers are standouts in the roles as the antagonists of Kevin Costner’s character.

Kevin Costner took a risk by investing his own money to make the film(s).  Costner also had faith that audiences would accept a four part story where each chapter doesn’t follow traditional Hollywood pacing or structure.  I’m willing to go along for the ride.  Chapter One left me looking forward to the rest of the tale. My rating for Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 is based on what we’ve seen so far.  I imagine once the full tale is told and we can view/rate the entire story, Horizon (the complete saga) will receive a higher rating.

Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 (2024) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Flight Risk” – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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Flight Risk looks like a fun ride.  in theaters October 18th.  Deal me in.

In this high-stakes suspense thriller, Academy Award nominee Mark Wahlberg (Best Supporting Actor, The Departed, 2006) plays a pilot transporting an Air Marshal (Michelle Dockery) accompanying a fugitive (Topher Grace) to trial. As they cross the Alaskan wilderness, tensions soar and trust is tested, as not everyone on board is who they seem.