Previews and Reviews that are Z's Views
Leo Leibelman is a freelance artist who has provided art for comics, trading cards, novels, instructional materials, film storyboards and more. Leo Leibelman takes commissions.
Leibelman presents his take on John Carpenter’s Escape from New York!
“You go in, find the President, bring him out in 24 hours, and you’re a free man.” – Bob Hauk
The Smashing Machine (2025)
Director: Benny Safdie
Screenplay: Benny Safdie
Stars: Dwayne Johnson, Emily Blunt, Ryan Bader and Bas Rutten.
Tagline: The unforgettable true story of a UFC legend.
The Plot…
Mark Kerr was a high school state wrestling champion. He was a NCAA Division I collegiate wrestling champion, a World Cup freestyle wrestling gold and silver medalist, and silver medalist in the Pan American Games. Kerr was one of the first UFC fighters and a two-time UFC Heavyweight tournament champion.
This is his story. Warts and all.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Bas Rutten, Kerr’s former coach and friend plays himself.
Dwayne Johnson is transformed into Mark Kerr. The make-up is amazing. Also Johnson gets to show real acting chops in his most “real” performance.
The Smashing Machine (2025) rates 4 of 5 stars.
Tony Stella created this beautiful poster for the overseas 70mm release of The Godfather.
Michael: My father is no different than any powerful man, any man with power, like a president or senator.
Kay Adams: Do you know how naive you sound, Michael? Presidents and senators don’t have men killed.
Michael: Oh. Who’s being naive, Kay?
Going through the Zablo vault I came across this watercolor of Sly Stallone as Cosmo Carboni and Tom Waits as Mumbles from Paradise Alley by Thomas Boatwright. Mumbles was Tom Waits first movie role.
Landman: Season 2 (2026)
Created by: Taylor Sheridan, Christian Wallace
Director: Stephen Kay (Eps. 1-10)
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, Andy Garcia, Sam Elliott, Colm Feore, Mustafa Speaks, Dougie Hall, K.C. Clyde, Stefania Spampinato, Guy Burnet and Francesca Xuereb.
Tagline: None.
The Plot…
Tommy Norris (Thorton) oversees the day-to-day operations for the M-Tex oil company. It’s Tommy’s job to make sure everything runs smoothly and the company makes money.
Monty Miller owned M-Tex. Since his death it’s become clear that although he was a billionaire (on paper), his dealings behind the scenes have the company on the precipice of losing everything. With Monty dead, his wife Cami, who has no experience in business, is owner of M-Tex. Tommy encourages Cami to sell the company. The sale would bring Cami generational wealth. Tami is set on moving forward with a drill that has a 10% chance of success. If they strike oil, the money earned would be exponentially more than selling the business. But if the drill doesn’t produce, Cami would lose everything.
In order to finance the new drill, Cami goes to Danny “Gallino” Morrell. Morrell is a financier on the surface, but behind the scenes runs a drug cartel. Cami ignored Tommy’s warnings about Morrell. Morrell also has his hooks in Tommy’s son’s wildcat wells.
To complicate matters, Tommy’s 80 year old father has come to live with him and his daughter is about to leave for college. Tommy cannot catch a break.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Taylor Sheridan, the show’s creator, returns to write all ten episodes of season two.
Stephen Kay, who directed six of the ten episodes in season one, returns to direct all ten in season two. 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).
The casting from the biggest to the smallest roles is on point. Standouts include:
Landman: Season 2 gets my highest recommendation.
Landman: Season 2 (2026) rates 5 of 5 stars.
How cool is this alt Rocky IV 40th Anniversary poster created by Sahin Düzgün? Very cool is the correct answer. Sahin is a graphic designer, poster artist and movie lover from Berlin, Germany.
Here is what Sahin had to say about his design: Forty years later, the spirit of Rocky IV still hits like a punch to the chest — the snow, the sweat, the cold determination. It’s that relentless 80s intensity mixed with raw emotion, a clash of worlds, and a reminder of how powerful a simple underdog drive can be.
Rocky: Going in one more round when you don’t think you can – that’s what makes all the difference in your life.
There Are No Saints (2022)
Director: Alfonso Pineda Ulloa
Screenplay: Paul Schrader
Stars: José María Yazpik, Shannyn Sossamon, Paz Vega, Tommy Flanagan, Ron Perlman, Tim Roth and Neal McDonough.
Tagline: None.
The Plot…
Neto Niente, a former mob enforcer known as The Jesuit, was just released from prison for a crime he didn’t commit. Things get worse when his ex-wife’s husband kills her and kidnaps his son. Now Niente is on a quest to save his son.
Things don’t always go as planned.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
The film reportedly was a tough production. Screenwriter, Paul Schrader was originally set to direct. Because of production delays, Schrader moved on. Oscar Isaac was originally set to star, but dropped out when the film lost financing. Brian Cox was originally in the cast. Reshoots were required when he dropped out and was replaced by Ron Perlman.
If you’re expecting a happy ending, don’t. This one is brutal and dark.
There Are No Saints (2022) rates 2 of 5 stars.
The Rip (2026)
Director: Joe Carnahan
Screenplay: Joe Carnahan, story by Joe Carnahan, Michael McGrale
Stars: Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Steven Yeun, Teyana Taylor, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Sasha Calle, Kyle Chandler, Daisuke Tsuji, Nestor Carbonell, Lina Esco, Cliff Chamberlain, Jose Pablo Cantillo, Marco Morales, Sal Lopez, Angel Rosario Jr. and Scott Adkins.
Tagline: Count the money. Count it again. Count on no one.
The Plot…
Rumors of crooked cops in the Miami-Dade Police Department are gaining traction. When Captain Jackie Velez is murdered, suspicion falls on her Tactical Narcotics Team. The TNT consists of Lieutenant Dane Dumars and Detectives J.D. Byrne, Mike Ro, Numa Baptiste, and Lolo Salazar. One or more of them may be dirty.
Just before the end of the day, Dumars recieves a tip about a house in a new subdivision containing drug money. It is the only occupied house in the area. Dumars informs the team that it is supposed to contain $100,000 to $200,00 in cartel cash.
Desi Molina answers the door. Desi is a young woman who recently inherited the house from her grandmother. She lives alone. Desi reluctantly lets the team in. The search of the house reveals a hidden space in the attic. The team discovers $20 million dollars in cash.
Lieutenant Dumars tells the team that they are not going to follow standard protocal. Normally they would call in the location and amount of the seizure. Dumars says he’s worried about crooked cops. Dumars orders the team to give him their cell phones. One or more of them could be crooked. Or is Dumars one of the bad cops?
Then a call comes to the house. Dumars answers. The voice on the other end says to take the amount of money called in and leave the rest. They have 30 minutes to comply. If they don’t everyone in the house will be executed.
Dumars and the team aren’t sure how to proceed. Was it the cartel or dirty cops calling? How did they know the money had been found? Who can they trust? What is the best thing to do?
The clock is ticking…
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
I went in to The Rip thinking it would be good. I was wrong. It was great. I absolutely loved it. Writer/director Joe Carnahan has crafted a story that has mystery, tension, suspense and action. Matt Damon and Ben Affleck are joined by Steven Yeun, Teyana Taylor, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Sasha Calle, and Kyle Chandler. All are perfectly cast.
I love the mystery of who to trust. The tension continues to mount as the minutes tick off. Trapped with a team that may not have your back in a deserted subivision. Afraid to call back-up because of dirty cops with the cartel closing in.
The Rip gets my highest recommendation.
The Rip (2026) rates 5 of 5 stars.
Police Story (1985)
Director: Jackie Chan
Screenplay: Jackie Chan, Edward Tang
Stars: Jackie Chan, Brigitte Lin, Maggie Cheung.
Tagline: From the master of action comes more screen excitement than you’ve ever seen.
The Plot…
Sergeant Chan Ka-Kui, an undercover officer in the Royal Hong Kong Police Force was part of a task force to bring down crime lord Chu Tao. Things go sideways. Now Tao wants revenge and his target is Sergeant Chan.
Step back, Jackie Chan is ready to roll!
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Police Story is famous for several big stunts and set pieces. In one, Jackie slides several stories down a pole of Christmas lights in a mall. In this stunt, Chan burned his hands, injured two vertebrae and dislocated his pelvis. The pole slide was done in one take, without rehearsals and without the use of wires.
Sly Stallone paid homage to a Jackie Chan action beat in Police Story. In Tango & Cash, Stallone’s character stops a semi, the same way that Chan stops the bus.
Police Story (1985) rates 4 of 5 stars.
I first met Shane Douberly at a HeroesCon. I’d never seen Shane’s art before but loved his style. So I hit him up for his take on Sly Stallone as Rocky Balboa. Shane came through with a knockout.
Death by Lightning (2025)
Created by: Mike Makowsky; based on DESTINY OF THE REPUBLIC: A TALE OF MADNESS, MEDICINE AND THE MURDER OF A PRESIDENT by Candice Millard
Director:
Teleplay:
Stars: Matthew Macfadyen, Michael Shannon, Betty Gilpin, Shea Whigham, Bradley Whitford, Nick Offerman, Laura Marcus, David Nykl, Alfie Tempest, Paula Malcomson, Barry Shabaka Henley and Vondie Curtis-Hall.
Tagline: None.
The Plot…
Congressman James Garfield went to the 1880 Republican National Convention to give a nomination speech. Garfield’s oratory was so powerful that through an unlikely series of events he became the party’s nominee. Although an underdog, Garfield won the election and became the 20th President of the United States.
Charles Guiteau, an ex-con, chronic liar and thief has dreams of glory and fame. Guiteau admires Garfield and feels their destiny’s are intwined. But they are not.
So Guiteau decides to kill the man he admires. Guiteau shoots Garfield in the back. Garfield is bedridden and in pain for months. Eighty days after being shot he dies. James Garfield was President just 200 days. But his Presidency had a positive impact to this day that few realize.
Charles Guiteau dreamed of fame. He was executed for his crime and is largely forgotten except to historians.
This is their story.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Death by Lightning is an amazing, but true story. Although a dramatization, it sticks very close to the actual events. Kudos to Mike Makowsky, who wrote the teleplay for all four episodes, and to Candice Millard who wrote the book which inspired the project.
The cast is amazing. Matthew Macfadyen, Michael Shannon, Betty Gilpin, Shea Whigham, Bradley Whitford and Nick Offerman give performances that deserve awards. They are amazing. It was also nice to see Barry Shabaka Henley and Vondie Curtis-Hall appear.
Death by Lightning gets my highest recommendation.
Death by Lightning (2025) rates 5 of 5 stars.
If a movie poster is what you need, Rudy Ao is the cure! What a cool painting!
“I don’t deal with psychos. I put ’em away.” – Marion Cobretti
The Wrecking Crew (2026)
Director: Ángel Manuel Soto
Screenplay: Jonathan Tropper
Stars: Dave Bautista, Jason Momoa, Temuera Morrison, Jacob Batalon, Morena Baccarin, Maia Kealoha, Stephen Root, Miyavi, David Hekili Kenui Bell, Lydia Peckham, Branscombe Richmond, Stephen Oyoung and Claes Bang.
Tagline: None.
The Plot…
Jonny Hale is a reservation cop living in Oklahoma. James Hale is a Navy Seal living in Hawaii. The two are half brothers who haven’t seen each other in ten years. When their father is killed in a hit and run, Jonny returns to Hawaii for the funeral.
Jonny believes that his father was murdered. Although unconvinced at first, James comes around when it becomes clear the Yakuza were involved.
Now Jonny and James have teamed to find the killers. Hawaiians should take cover. Things are about to get crazy.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
The Wrecking Crew features David Hekili Kenui Bell final film role. He died on June 12, 2025.
Dave Bautista and Jason Mamoa have great chemistry. Kudos also to Jacob Batalon, Morena Baccarin and Stephen Root.
I wanted to like this film more, but it was a bit too over-the-top to be taken seriously. They really leaned into the humor to the point that I never felt concerned for the duo’s safety. The action (with a couple of gory scenes as well) is ratcheted up to match the humor. Still, watching Bautista and Mamoa tear through the bad guys isn’t a bad way to spend an hour and half.
The Wrecking Crew (2026) rates 3 of 5 stars.
Juan Saniose presents The Man. The Myth. The Legend.
While digging through the Zablo Vault, I came across a Dave Wachter sketch of Sly Stallone as John Rambo from First Blood that I somehow never posted. Well, it’s time to fix that!
You can see more of Dave’s art at his site. – Craig
