Category: Celebs

“The Long Riders” (1980) directed by Walter Hill, starring the Carradine Brothers, the Keach Brothers and the Quaid Brothers / Z-View

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The Long Riders (1980)

Director: Walter Hill

Screenplay: Bill Bryden, Steven Phillip Smith, Stacy Keach, James Keach

Stars: David Carradine, Stacy Keach, Dennis Quaid, Keith Carradine, Robert Carradine, James Keach, Randy Quaid, Kevin Brophy, Harry Carey Jr., Christopher Guest, Nicholas Guest, Felice Orlandi, Pamela Reed, James Remar, Fran Ryan, Savannah Smith Boucher, Edward Bunker, Tim Rossovich and Sonny Landham.

Tagline: They were nine men from four families. They rode together from Missouri to Minnesota, and from Texas to Tennessee. This is their story…and it’s as close to the truth as legends can ever be.

The Plot…

The exploits (and eventual demise) of The James Gang.  After the Civil War ended three groups of brothers Jesse and Frank James, Cole, Jim and Bob Younger, plus Ed and Clell Miller became famous for their daring stagecoach, train and bank robberies.  Although they were stone cold killers, they became legends.

This is their story.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

After James and his brother, Stacy Keach played the Wright Brothers in a tv movie, James got the idea for them to play Jesse and Frank James.  The story was developed as a play and ultimately an off-Broadway production ran.

When James Keach and Robert Carradine starred together in the television film, The Hatfields and the McCoys, they discussed the proposed James Gang movie.  Robert though he and his brothers should play the Youngers.

When the film was first announced Beau and Jeff Bridges were to play the Millers.  When Jeff became unavailable, the Quaids came on to play the Millers.

Everything was coming together as a six hour mini-series called The Bandit Kings.  When Fred Silverman became NBC’s President he cancelled all mini-series set up before he came on board.

Walter Hill agreed to direct, David Carradine gave up his normal profit participation, and the Keach Brothers gave up their Executive Producer pay to get the film made.

Director Walter Hill was on a roll.  The Long Riders was his fourth time at the helm.  His previous three films were Hard Times, The Driver and The Warriors.  After The Long Riders his next three movies were Southern Comfort, 48hrs. and Streets of Fire.  What a start!!

The Long Riders (1980) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Elevation” starring Anthony Mackie is Here!

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The trailer for Elevation starring Anthony Mackie is here.

Deal me in.

Set in the post-apocalyptic Rocky Mountains, a single father and two women venture from the safety of their homes to face monstrous creatures to save the life of a young boy. The film stars Anthony Mackie, Morena Baccarin, and Maddie Hasson and is directed by George Nolfi.

Vertical will release the thriller in theaters on November 8, 2024.

“From the World of John Wick: Ballerina” starring Ana de Armas, Anjelica Huston, Gabriel Byrne, Lance Reddick, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Norman Reedus, with Ian McShane & Keanu Reeves – The Trailer is Here!

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From the World of John Wick — say no more.

Deal me in.

Taking place during the events of John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum, Ballerina follows Eve Macarro (Ana de Armas) who is beginning her training in the assassin traditions of the Ruska Roma.

From the World of John Wick: Ballerina – in theaters June 6! Starring Ana de Armas, Anjelica Huston, Gabriel Byrne, Lance Reddick, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Norman Reedus, with Ian McShane, and Keanu Reeves.

“From Dusk Till Dawn” (1996) directed by Robert Rodriguez, written by Quentin Tarantino, starring George Clooney, Harvey Keitel, Juliette Lewis & Quentin Tarantino / Z-View

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From Dusk Till Dawn (1996)

Director: Robert Rodriguez

Screenplay: Quentin Tarantino, story by Robert Kurtzman

Stars: George Clooney, Harvey Keitel, Juliette Lewis, Quentin Tarantino, Ernest Liu, Salma Hayek, Cheech Marin, Danny Trejo, Tom Savini, Fred Williamson, Brenda Hillhouse, John Saxon, Marc Lawrence, Kelly Preston, John Hawkes, Greg Nicotero, Robert Rodriguez and Michael Parks.

Tagline: From Quentin Tarantino. From Robert Rodriguez. From Dusk Till Dawn

The Plot…

Seth (Clooney) and Richie (Tarantino) Gecko are bank robbers on the run.  They’re desperate to get to across the border to Mexico.  If they make it, they’ll meet Carlos at a strip club called The Titty Twister.  From there, for a price, they’ll be taken to a sanctuary.

The trip won’t be easy.  Every cop including the Texas Rangers are after them.  There are roadblocks, constant news reports plus Richie is liable to royally screw things up.  Seth is a thief and will kill anyone who attempts to bring him in, but there are lines he won’t cross.  Richie is a sadist, sexual deviant and is an eager killer.

Opportunity presents itself when the Gecko brothers see Jacob Fuller (Keitel) and his two teenage kids, Scott (Liu) and Kate (Lewis) outside their RV.  They kidnap the family and force Jacob to drive them across the border.

Now it’s a short journey to The Titty Twister.  Once there the family will be set free and the brothers will go to sanctuary.  Or so they think.  No one can imagine the horrors that await.  Not everyone will survive.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I love how From Dusk Till Dawn morphs from a crime flick to a horror movie.

There are movie easter eggs throughout the film.  Earl McGraw (Michael Parks) appears here and in Kill Bill, Planet Terror and Death Proof.  Big Kahuna Burgers, made famous in Pulp Fiction (and later Death Proof) show up.  A Precinct 13 shirt worn by Scott is a reference to John Carpenter’s Assault on Precinct 13.  The crotch-gun that Sex Machine uses was also seen in Rodriguez’s film Desperado. Chango Beer seen in this film was also a beverage in Desperado.

Cheech Marin plays three roles in the film: a border patrol agent, the barker at The Titty Twister and Carlos.

From Dusk Till Dawn fits in perfectly with Rodriguez and Tarantino’s Grindhouse double feature… instead make it a triple feature that would run from, uh, dusk till dawn.

From Dusk Till Dawn (1996) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“Wolfs” starring George Clooney and Brad Pitt – The 2nd Trailer is Here!

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The second trailer for Wolfs starring George Clooney and Brad Pitt is here.

Deal me in.

He works alone. So does he. Wolfs is streaming September 27 on Apple TV+ https://apple.co/Wolfs_

George Clooney and Brad Pitt reunite for the action comedy WOLFS. Clooney plays a professional fixer hired to cover up a high profile crime. But when a second fixer (Pitt) shows up and the two “lone wolves” are forced to work together, they find their night spiraling out of control in ways that neither one of them expected.

“Organ Trail” (2023) starring Zoé De Grand Maison and Clé Bennett / Z-View

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Organ Trail (2023)

Director: Michael Patrick Jann

Screenplay: Megan Turner

Stars: Zoé De Grand Maison, Lisa LoCicero, Olivia Grace Applegate, Sam Trammell, Nicholas Logan, Michael Abbott Jr., Alejandro Akara, Clé Bennett, Jessica Frances Dukes and Thomas Lennon.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

The year is 1870.  The Archer family, Abraham, Celeste, and their teenage children, Tobias and Abby are traveling across the frontier in a covered wagon.  One evening they come across a massacre.  Everyone except a young woman named Cassidy has been brutally murdered.  The Archers treat Cassidy’s wounds and tell her she can travel with them.

Late that night, the four murderers, Logan, Rhys, Brody, and Felix return.  They kill everyone in the Archer family except Abby.  It turns out Cassidy is with the four men.  Abby is bound and taken to a deserted ghost town.  It is the base of operations for the killers.  They routinely use Cassidy to slow down travelers who they then kill and rob.  Cassidy’s injuries were because she tried to escape the men.

The men are sadistic, perverted killers.  Now they have two women to use as bait on unsuspecting travelers. Abby realizes that escape is unlikely and will likely result in her death.

Abby plans to leave the first chance she gets.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Organ Trail is western/horror mashup.

Zoé De Grand Maison and Clé Bennett are both new actors to me.  I will be keeping an eye out for their future performances.  They were excellent.

Nicholas Logan once again makes an excellent scary bad guy.

Organ Trail (2023) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Canary Black” starring Kate Beckinsale – Two Posters and a Trailer are Here!

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We have two posters and a trailer for Canary Black.  The first poster might be for the German release and the second the US.  I prefer the first.  The trailer has me interested enough to check out the film.

Deal me in.

Canary Black is streaming on Prime Video October 24.

A top CIA operative, Avery Graves, is blackmailed by terrorists into betraying her own country to save her kidnapped husband. Cut off from her team, she turns to her underworld contacts to survive and help locate the coveted intelligence that the kidnappers want. Betrayed at every turn, she must rely on her cutting-edge training and primitive fighting skills in a deadly race to deliver a ransom that could trigger a global crisis.

“Sinners” directed by Ryan Coogler, starring Michael B. Jordan – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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Check out the poster and trailer for Sinners directed by Ryan Coogler, starring Michael B. Jordan.

I cannot remember the last time a trailer had me this hyped to see a film.

Deal me in.

A new vision of fear from director Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan. #SinnersMovie – Only in theaters March 7. #ShotWithIMAXFilmCameras

From Ryan Coogler — director of “Black Panther” and “Creed” — and starring Michael B. Jordan comes a new vision of fear: “Sinners.”

Trying to leave their troubled lives behind, twin brothers (Jordan) return to their hometown to start again, only to discover that an even greater evil is waiting to welcome them back.

“You keep dancing with the devil, one day he’s gonna follow you home.”

Written and directed by Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Coogler, “Sinners” stars Jordan (the “Black Panther” and “Creed” franchises) in a dual role, joined by Oscar nominee Hailee Steinfeld (“Bumblebee,” “True Grit”), Jack O’Connell (“Ferrari”), Wunmi Mosaku (“Passenger”), Jayme Lawson (“The Woman King”), Omar Benson Miller (“True Lies”) and Delroy Lindo (“Da 5 Bloods”).

The film is produced by Coogler and frequent collaborators Sev Ohanian and Zinzi Coogler. The executive producers are Ludwig Göransson, Will Greenfield and Rebecca Cho.

Coogler’s behind-the-camera artisans include his “Black Panther” franchise collaborators: director of photography Autumn Durald Arkapaw, Oscar-winning production designer Hannah Beachler, editor Michael P. Shawver, Oscar-winning composer Ludwig Göransson, and Oscar-winning costume designer Ruth E. Carter.

Warner Bros. Pictures presents A Proximity Media Production, A Ryan Coogler Film: “Sinners.” The film will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, in theaters only nationwide on March 7, 2025, and internationally beginning March 2025.

“Gladiator II” directed by Ridley Scott, starring Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal & Denzel Washington – New Poster & New Trailer are Here!

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Here we have the new poster and trailer for Gladiator II.  I have to admit I didn’t have much hope for this being a good film when it was announced.  The trailers have won me over.

Deal me in.

From director Ridley Scott, watch the New Trailer for #GladiatorII starring Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Denzel Washington, Connie Nielsen, Joseph Quinn, and Fred Hechinger – Only in theatres November 22.

“Conan the Barbarian” (1982) directed by John Milius, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger & James Earl Jones / Z-View

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Conan the Barbarian (1982)

Director: John Milius

Screenplay: John Milius, Oliver Stone; based on CONAN THE BARBARIAN by Robert E. Howard

Stars: Arnold Schwarzenegger, James Earl Jones, Max von Sydow, Sandahl Bergman, Ben Davidson, Cassandra Gava, Gerry Lopez, Mako, Valérie Quennessen, Franco Columbu, Nadiuska, Sven-Ole Thorsen, Ron Cobb and William Smith.

Tagline: Slave. Barbarian. Warrior. Thief… Conan.

The Plot…

When Conan (Scwarzenegger) was a boy, his parents and entire village were massacred by a cult led by Thulsa Doom (Jones).  Conan was sold into slavery to work on the Wheel of Pain at a remote mill.  He grows into manhood.  The wheel has made Conan huge and muscular.  A passing traveler, buys Conan to turn him into a gladiator.

Conan is undefeated in the gladiator pits.  After countless wins, Conan earns his freedom.

Over the years, the cult of Thulsa Doom has grown.  Surrounded by warriors and his own mystical powers, Doom continues his heartless rule.  But now Conan has plans to avenge his parents.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Arnold was perfectly cast as Conan.

Sven-Ole Thorsen who appears as the warrior Thorgrim would go on to appear in a total of 15 films with Arnold Schwarzenegger either as an actor or stuntman.

Arnold was signed for three sequels.  Only one was made and it fell far short of the original.

Conan the Barbarian (1982) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Rebel Ridge” written & directed by Jeremy Saulnier, starring Aaron Pierre, Don Johnson and Annasophia Robb / Z-View

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Rebel Ridge (2024)

Director: Jeremy Saulnier

Screenplay: Jeremy Saulnier

Stars: Aaron Pierre, Don Johnson, AnnaSophia Robb, David Denman, Emory Cohen, Daniel H. Chung, Dana Lee, C.J. LeBlanc, Brannon Cross, Chelsea Bryan, Al Vicente  and James Cromwell.

Tagline: Their laws. His rules.

The Plot…

Terry Richmond (Pierre) gets word that his younger brother has been arrested in the small town of Shelby Springs.  If his brother can’t come up with $10,000 for bail, he’ll be transported to the state prison to wait until trial.  Terry knows if his brother is sent to prison, he’ll be marked for death because of problems with a gang leader serving time there.

So Terry lets his business partner buy him out of the restaurant they co-own.  Terry then takes the $30,000 and heads directly to Shelby Springs.  If the bail isn’t paid by the end of the day, his brother heads to prison and certain death.  Just outside of the city limit, Terry is pulled over.  The cop gives Terry a hard time.  Despite that, Terry stays polite and calm.  This seems to upset the officer more.  Then the cop discovers Terry has $30,000 in cash.

Despite Terry’s explanation, the cop confiscates the cash.  The officer says that until Terry can prove the money is from a legit source, the town will keep it as a civil forfeiture.  The cop leaves with the cash.  Terry heads into town.

Terry meets with Chief Sandy Burnne (Johnson) and explains the situation.  The money is from a legit source and he needs to pay his brother’s bail to keep him from certain death.  Burnne listens, then tells Terry to hit the road.  He can sue to get the money back, but that will cost more than the amount he’s lost.

The clock is ticking on saving his brother.  Chief Sandy Burnne has a small police force backing him up.  What none of them know is Terry Richmond is a close combat expert who used to train marines.  Terry is a patient man.  Even a patient man has his limits.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Aaron Pierre has a career as an action star if he wants it.  Don Johnson is always good, but here he’s at the top of his game.

John Boyega was originally set to star and had filmed some scenes.  Boyega then left the production, opening the door for Pierre.

Rebel Ridge is like an updated First Blood.  Expect several twists and a rousing good time.

Kudos to writer and director Jeremy Saulnier.  He’s a talent to watch.

Rebel Ridge (2024) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“Den of Thieves 2: Pantera” starring Gerard Butler and O’Shea Jackson Jr. – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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Deal me in!

Gerard Butler (Plane, Has Fallen series) and O’Shea Jackson Jr. (Straight Out of Compton, Godzilla: King of the Monsters) return in the sequel to 2018’s action-heist hit Den of Thieves.

In DEN OF THIEVES: PANTERA, Big Nick (Butler) is back on the hunt in Europe and closing in on Donnie (Jackson), who is embroiled in the treacherous and unpredictable world of diamond thieves and the infamous Panther mafia, as they plot a massive heist of the world’s largest diamond exchange.

Den of Thieves 2: Pantera – in theaters January 10! Starring Gerard Butler and O’Shea Jackson Jr

“Sorcerer” (1977) directed by William Friedkin, starring Roy Scheider / Z-View

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Sorcerer (1977)

Director: William Friedkin

Screenplay: Walon Green basede on LE SALAIRE de la PEUR by Georges Arnaud

Stars: Roy Scheider, Amidou, Ramon Bieri, Peter Capell, Jacques François, Frank Pesce, Tom Signorelli and Joe Spinell.

Tagline: WANTED. Four men willing to drive a cargo of death to escape a life in hell.

The Plot…

Four men, on the run from their home countries have ended up in a small South American village.  They are:

  • Nilo, a Mexican hitman.
  • Kassem, an Arab terrorist
  • Victor, a French banker who embezzled millions
  • Jackie (Scheider), a U.S. getaway driver. During his last robbery one of his partners killed the brother of a Mafia kingpin.  Jackie, like each of these men has been marked for death.

All four men have by accident ended up in the same poor South American village.  They eek out a meager living working long hours for an American oil company.  When one of the company’s oil wells explodes, the only way to put out the resulting fire is by explosion.

Two truckloads of highly explosive nitroglycerin need to be transported to the oil well.  The journey will go through rainforests, over raging rivers, dangerous mountain roads, and areas where bandits kill travelers.  The company offers a huge bonus for any drivers willing to attempt the suicide mission.

Nilo, Kassem, Victor and Jackie are selected.  The four men will have to overcome personal differences and all of the obstacles of the trip… even then not all will survive.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Stephen King has said that Sorcerer is his all time favorite movie.

Director William Friedkin said that the shoot was plagued by malaria, food poisoning and injury.  Friedkin contacted malaria and lost 50 pounds.

The decaying bridge scene over a raging river is a classic.  Despite looking like it could collapse at any moment, it was a special effect masterpiece.  It cost $1 million to construct.  The water below was only one and a half feet deep.  Friedkin created the visual effect of a raging river using wind machines, helicopters and huge water hoses.  The visuals are amazingly real.

Reportedly Friedkin wasn’t happen with Scheider in the starring role.  Friedkin wanted Steve McQueen.  McQueen would only agree if his wife, Ali McGraw was also cast.  Friedkin refused, so McQueen dropped out.  Friedkin then went after Clint Eastwood, Jack Nicholson, Gene Hackman and Kris Kristofferson without success.  Friedkin agreed to have Scheider take the lead.  Friedkin later called it the worst casting decision he ever made.

The film has achieved a cult status, but was considered a failure when released.

The final scene is a classic.  A sound effect lives the viewer to determine the ending.

Sorcerer (1977) rates 4 of 5 stars.