Previews and Reviews that are Z's Views
The Poster and Trailer for The Wrecking Crew starring Jason Mamoa and Dave Bautista have arrived.
Deal me in.
They fight like brothers. They wreck like legends.
Jason Momoa and Dave Bautista star in The Wrecking Crew, coming January 28 to Prime Video.
Road to Paloma (2014)
Director: Jason Momoa
Screenplay: Jason Momoa, Robert Homer Mollohan, Jonathan Hirschbein
Stars: Jason Momoa, Robert Homer Mollohan, Lisa Bonet, Tye Alexander, Henree Alyse, Chris Browning, Charlie Brumbly, Linden Chiles, Timothy V. Murphy, Michael Raymond-James, Tanoai Reed, Steve Reevis, Wes Studi and Lance Henriksen.
Tagline: On the road. On the run.
The Plot…
Robert Wolf has been on the run. Six months ago Wolf murdered the man who brutally raped and killed his mother. Now Wolf has returned home to collect his mother’s ashes. He plans to spread them on land she loved. But when the FBI closing in, Wolf’s last wish may not be fulfilled.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Road to Paloma features Jason Mamoa’s debut as a director. He also was the star and the film’s co-writter and co-producer.
Although Jason Mamoa and Lisa Bonet were once married, they weren’t at the time Road to Paloma was made.
Wes Studi and Lance Henriksen have small but welcome roles.
I wanted to like Road to Paloma more than I did. I liked the story concept and actors involved. Mamoa shows promise as a director. My problem was the pacing of the film. For a man on a mission as well as on the run with the FBI closing in, the film lacked a sense of urgency. Your mileage may, of course, vary.
Road to Paloma (2014) rates 2 of 5 stars.
When Worlds Collide (1951)
Produced by: George Pal
Director: Rudolph Maté
Screenplay: Sydney Boehm; based on When Worlds Collide stories published in Blue Book Magazine in 1933 by Edwin Balmer, Philip Wylie
Stars: Richard Derr, Barbara Rush, Peter Hansen, John Hoyt, Larry Keating, Rachel Ames, Stephen Chase, Hayden Rorke, Sandro Giglio, Kirk Alyn, Stuart Whitman and Frank Cady.
Tagline: 44 Men and Women in Desperate Getaway Flight…To Escape Earth’s Destruction!
The Plot…
Scientists learn that Bellus, a recently discovered star, and Zyra, a planet being pulled along by Bellus, are on a collision course with Earth. In just over eight months, Zyra will pass by Earth. Nineteen days later, Bellus’ impact will destroy our planet.
Dr. Cole Hendron has a plan to build a spaceship to carry 44 people to Zyra as it passes Earth. These 44 will repopulate the new planet and humanity will survive. Two wealthy humanitarians agree to put up the money, but the project still needs more. Sidney Stanton, a shrewd businessman agrees to put up the rest of the funds, if he can choose the people that get to go. Dr. Hendron refuses the offer since Stanton isn’t qualifed to make the decision. Staton agrees to put up the money if he is guaranteed a seat on the ship.
Panic throughout the world spreads as doomsday approaches. Other countries are making plans to build their own rockets, but time is short. As Zyra hurtles closer to Earth, massive earthquakes, tidal waves and volcanic eruptions wreak havok on the world. Many countries declare martial law. Dr. Hendron and his team work to make-up time, but as the day of launch approaches, and workers realize that not everyone can make the trip, tempers flare.
As the clock ticks down, so too do the odds of humanity’s survival.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
When Worlds Collide was nominated for two 1952 Academy Awards and won one…
Producer, George Pal hoped to film a sequel based on the stories of the struggles on the new planet, but the film never happened.
Some of the shots used in When Worlds Collide would be reused in other George Pal films such as War of the Worlds, The Time Machine and Atlantis: The Lost Continent.
Features Stuart Whitman’s uncredited film debut.
Also features the film debut of Rachel Ames (aka Judith Ames). Rachael Ames and co-star Peter Hanson would go on to act on General Hospital together for decades.
Kirk Alyn, best known as the actor to first play Superman, appears uncredited as a rioter.
If you enjoy 1950s sci-fi, When Worlds Collide should be on your viewing list.
When Worlds Collide (1951) rates 3 of 5 stars.
Here we have three posters and a trailer for They Will Kill You directed by Kirill Sokolov, starring Zazie Beetz, Myha’La, Paterson Joseph, Tom Felton, Heather Graham, and Patricia Arquette. This looks like crazy fun.
Deal me in!
From New Line Cinema and Nocturna comes THEY WILL KILL YOU. The film unleashes a blood-soaked, high-octane horror-action-comedy in which a young woman must survive the night at the Virgil, a demonic cult’s mysterious and twisted death-trap of a lair, before becoming their next offering in a uniquely brazen, big screen battle of epic kills and wickedly dark humor.
THEY WILL KILL YOU stars Zazie Beetz, Myha’La, Paterson Joseph, Tom Felton, Heather Graham, and Patricia Arquette.
Directed by Kirill Sokolov and written by Sokolov & Alex Litvak, the film is produced by Andy Muschietti, Barbara Muschietti and Dan Kagan, and executive produced by Russell Ackerman, John Schoenfelder, Carl Hampe, Litvak and Sokolov.
Behind the camera, Sokolov is joined by director of photography Isaac Bauman, production designer Jeremy Reed, editor Luke Doolan, costume designer Neil McClean and visual effects supervisor Marc Smith. The composer is Carlos Rafael Rivera, the music supervisor is Andrea von Foerster and the casting director is Richard Delia.
New Line Cinema and Nocturna present THEY WILL KILL YOU, distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, only in theaters in North America on March 27, 2026, and internationally beginning on 25 March 2026.
Check out the new trailer for The Rip starring Matt Damon and Ben Affleck & Directed by Joe Carnahan.
Deal me in!
Trust has a price… Who will pay?
The Rip is only on Netflix, January 16.
Starring Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Steven Yeun, Teyana Taylor, Sasha Calle, Catalina Sandino Moreno & Kyle Chandler.
Directed by Joe Carnahan.
I’m Chevy Chase and You’re Not (2026)
Director: Marina Zenovich
Stars: Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo, Ryan Reynolds, Goldie Hawn, Dan Aykroyd, Martin Short, Kevin Nealon, Paul Shaffer and Lorne Michaels.
Tagline: None.
The Plot…
Saturday Night Live premiered on October 11, 1975, and it was obvious from the start that Chevy Chase was going to be the breakout star. When Chase anchored the “News Update” segments viewership would spike. He came off as funny, goofy, personalble, girls thought he was cute and guys liked him as well. And man, could he take a pratfall.
The only surprise when Chase left Saturday Night Live for Hollywood was how quickly it happened. He didn’t even complete the show’s second season.
Chase’s first starring role in a feature film (Foul Play) hinted at great things to come. But his films were hit (Caddyshack, National Lampoon’s Vacation) or miss (Oh! Heavenly Dog; Under the Rainbow). The misses started to outnumber the hits. Rumors surfaced that Chase was “hard to work with” or worse still, just an ass.
I‘m Chevy Chase and You’re Not explores Chase’s life warts and all.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
I was a Chevy Chase fan at the start of his career. I thought Chase was going to be a big star. And he was for a bit. Chase would have been on top longer, if not for his behavior. Maybe it was the drugs (which he discusses). Maybe it was his ego. Maybe it was unresolved issues from his childhood. More likely it was a combination of all of these things.
I’m Chevy Chase and You’re Not is interesting and informative even without the participation of folks who declined to be interviewed (Steve Martin, Martin Short, the entire cast and crew of Community – except for Jay Chandrasekhar who directed one episode with Chase). Their silence says a lot.
After seeing I’m Chevy Chase and You’re Not, I have a better understanding of the man and his career. He often appears to be his own worst enemy. Yet, at 82, Chase still has a quick (often inappropriate) wit even if he can no longer take a pratfall.
I’m Chevy Chase and You’re Not (2026)
Security (2017)
Director: Alain DesRochers
Screenplay: Tony Mosher, John Sullivan
Stars: Antonio Banderas, Ben Kingsley, Liam McIntyre, Cung Le, Chad Lindberg, Gabriella Wright, Shari Watson.
Tagline: It’s going to be a long night.
The Plot…
Eddie Deacon, a former US Marine Captain has been out of work for too long. When Deacon is offered a job as a security guard at a remote mall, he accepts. There he finds a security detail lead by a cop wanna-be and a team of slackers. The hardest part of most nights is staying awake.
That all changes late one night when a young girl shows up banging and screaming to get inside. Deacon brings her in. The girl is terrified and claims that people are coming to kill her. A man shows up and says he’s there to bring the girl home. He’s calm and has answers for every question. But Deacon senses something is not right.
The man changes tactics. He offers money for the girl. When that is refused he says that he has an elite squad of mercenaries that are going to break in, kill everyone and then take the girl. Communications to the mall are jammed and the mercenaries are seen prepping to attack.
It’s going to be a long night.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Lillian Blankenship, in her film debut, plays Antonio Banderas’ daughter. Later in the same year, she would again play Banderas’ daughter in the film Acts of Vengeance.
Security is a fun, action-packed ride. Banderas is perfect as the former marine unwilling to give up the child. Ben Kingsley plays the villain with such calm it’s creepy. Liam McIntyre’s character has an unexpected arc that he makes work.
If you like action films, then give Security a try.
Security (2017) rates 4 of 5 stars.
John Beatty created this headsketch of Sly Stallone for me back in 2010. At that time John would do livestream headsketch sessions and I’d serve as his co-host. Fun times!
Osiris (2025)
Director: William Kaufman
Screenplay: William Kaufman, Paul Reichelt
Stars: Max Martini, Linda Hamilton, Brianna Hildebrand, LaMonica Garrett, Michael Irby, Linds Edwards, Jaren Mitchell and Tyler Galpin.
Tagline: None.
The Plot…
One night in the middle of an intense fire fight, a US Special Forces squad led by Sergeant Kelly, is suddenly transported away. Kelly and his team awaken aboard an alien craft. As they come to grips with what occurred, they see skinned corpses and strange weapons all around.
As the soldiers gather their weapons and scavange others, aliens attack. The creatures are huge, armored, eyeless beings with sharp teeth, claws and energy weapons with shields. Kelly leads his soldiers as they retreat. Suddenly Ravi, a Russian soldier appears to direct the team to a safe location.
Ravi explains that she has survived by hiding throughout the ship. The aliens collect humans for food… but she has a plan to kill them all as well as their ability to communicate with their home planet. If they can live long enough to pull it off.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Osiri draws inspiration from Aliens, Predator and even Planet of the Apes. Sadly, it falls far short of all of them. (And the Planet of the Apes nod, made me groan.)
Osiris (2025) rates 2 of 5 stars.
“I’m Your Huckleberry” by Barret Chapman! This peach of a poster is available as a limited edition Giclee print.
Are you going to buy one? “You’re a daisy if you do.”
Johnny O’Clock (1947)
Director: Robert Rossen
Screenplay: Robert Rossen; story by Milton Holmes
Stars: Dick Powell, Evelyn Keyes, Lee J. Cobb, Ellen Drew, Nina Foch, Thomas Gomez, John Kellogg, Phil Brown, Fred Aldrich and Jeff Chandler.
Tagline: Time Was Running Out For Johnny O’Clock … and so were his women!
The Plot…
Johnny O’Clock runs a casino for gangster Guido Marchettis. Johnny is everything that Guido is not. Johnny is well-liked, well-spoken and a favorite of everyone… especially Nelle, Guido’s wife. She keeps her attraction to Johnny a secret from everyone but Johnny.
Johnny has no interest in Nelle. That doesn’t stop Nelle from giving Johnny the gift of an expensive engraved watch. It’s an even better version of one she gave Guido on his birthday. Johnny doesn’t want the watch or Nelle’s attention. He writes a note telling Nelle to stop. Johnny gives the note and watch to the casino’s hat-check girl, Harriett to return to Nelle.
The next day Harriett is found dead from an apparent suicide. Harriett’s sister, Nancy is notified of her sister’s death. Nancy arrives wanting to know why her sister killed herself. She meets Johnny and they learn that Harriett was murdered. As Nancy and Johnny work to sort out who would want to kill Harriett, they begin to fall in love.
Police Inspector Koch gets the case. He learns that Harriett was dating Chuck Blayden, a crooked cop interested in leaving the force and taking over Johnny’s role at the casino. Inspector Koch finds Johnny’s note and the expensive watch. This adds both Johnny and Guido to his list of suspects. It also makes Guido believe that Johnny and his wife, Nelle were having an affair.
The person behind Harriett’s death decides Johnny is next… and Nancy too if she gets in the way.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Johnny O’Clock features Robert Rossen’s debut as a director. Although in a TCM interview Nina Foch (who played Harriett) asserted that Rossen wasn’t the film’s actual director. Foch never said who it was though.
Jeff Chandler, although uncredited, appears in his second feature film role. Chandler credited Dick Powell for getting him the part.
I enjoyed Johnny O’Clock but most folks like it even more than I do.
Johnny O’Clock (1947) rates 3 of 5 stars.
Shattered (1991)
Director: Wolfgang Petersen
Screenplay: Wolfgang Petersen; based on THE PLASTIC NIGHTMARE by Richard Neeley
Stars: Tom Berenger, Bob Hoskins, Greta Scacchi, Joanne Whalley, Corbin Bernsen, Bert Rosario, Kellye Nakahara, Frank Cavestani and Theodore Bikel.
Tagline: A love he can’t forget. A murder he can’t remember.
The Plot…
Dan Merrick wakes up in a hospital with no memory of how he got there. His injuries were gruesome. He barely lived. His face required reconstructive plastic surgery. The concussion left him with psychogenic amnesia. But he lived.
Dan learns driving home late one night he and Judith, his wife, were involved in a terrible accident. The car went off the road and over a steep embankment. Judith suffered minor injuries when she was thrown from the car. Dan has no memory of the accident or anything from his past. The doctors say it could slowly return… or not.
Judith is so loving and attentive to Dan as he recovers. Dan learns he was a partner in an architectural firm. Slowly flashes of memory come to Dan but they make no sense. As Dan is going through things he comes across hidden photos. They are of Judith. With another man. Judith was cheating on him!
As Dan’s memory slowly returns he begins to wonder about the accident. The same wreck that nearly killed him, left Judith with minor injuries. If Judith and her lover were trying to kill him, Dan is sure that they will conspire to finish the job.
If only he could remember…
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Shattered delivers as a Hitchcockian psychological erotic thriller. It’s a fun neo-noir mystery filled with surprises and a fun twist ending.
Shattered reminds me of a film that would have been made in the 1940s, but instead is a product of 1990s film sensibilities.
I love it.
Shattered (1991) rates 5 of 5 stars.
Caught Stealing (2025)
Director: Darren Aronofsky
Screenplay: Charlie Huston; based on CAUGHT STEALING by Charlie Huston
Stars: Austin Butler, Regina King, Zoë Kravitz, Matt Smith, Griffin Dunne, Shaun O’Hagan, Action Bronson, Matt Smith, Nikita Kukushkin, Yuri Kolokolnikov, D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, Oleg Prudius, Liev Schreiber, Benito Martinez Ocasio, Bad Bunny, Carol Kane and Vincent D’Onofrio.
Tagline: 2 Russians, 2 Jews and a Puerto Rican walk into a bar…
The Plot…
Henry “Hank” Thompson was a baseball phenom headed to the big leagues straight out of high school. Then a tragic auto accident left a friend dead and Hank with a career-ending injury. A career that never even had a chance to get started.
That was ten years ago. 1988. Now Hank is a New York City bartender. He drinks too much, lacks real ambition, and still loves The San Francisco Giants. Oh, Hank also loves Yvonne. She’s a positive influence and it looks like they may have a future. Life is good. Except for his nightmares about the car crash. What could have been and what was.
Still, with Yvonne, life is on the right track.
When Hank’s neighbor, Russ Miner has to leave for a few days to visit his hospitalized father, Hank is talked into taking care of Russ’ cat. It isn’t long after, that two Russian mobsters show up. They’re looking for Russ. When Hank cannot give the thugs the answers they want, they beat Hank nearly to death.
Detective Elise Roman questions Hank. She thinks he’s withholding information. He’s not. Detective Roman informs Hank that the Russians are dangerous. (No kidding.) Worse still, his neighbor Russ works for the infamous Drucker brothers. The Drucker brothers are known killers, but never leave anyone alive willing to testify against them. Detective Roman warns Hank that with the Russians and the Druckers after him, he won’t have long to live. Neither will anyone close to him. If the Russians don’t get them, the Druckers will.
Hank has no clue what everyone is looking for. Hank understands if he doesn’t figure it out, he’s dead… and so are his family and friends.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Charlie Huston’s Henry “Hank” Thompson trilogy (CAUGHT STEALING / SIX BAD THINGS / A DANGEROUS MAN) earned the #1 spot in my favorite books of 2006. They get my highest recommendation. Although the movie makes changes from the novel, I still loved the adaptation.
Caught Stealing is exceptionally well cast. It is my favorite Austin Butler film. It would be cool to see the rest of the Hank Thompson trilogy adapted and Butler make the transformation to A DANGEROUS MAN. Zoë Kravitz is perfect as Hank’s love interest. Kudos also to Regina King, Griffin Dunne, Shaun O’Hagan, Liev Schreiber, Bad Bunny, Carol Kane and Vincent D’Onofrio. They shine.
Caught Stealing has a couple of shocking twists. It also has the right mix of suspense, humor and action. I loved it. Caught Stealing gets my highest recommendation.
Caught Stealing (2025) rates 5 of 5 stars.
A couple of months ago I was going through the Zablo vault, and I came across a watercolor of Cobra by Thomas Boatwright that I’d never posted.
At that time I said that Boatwright used to regularly livestream art and for a few years was a guest at HeroesCon. Getting art from Thomas Boatwright was always a joy. Sadly, that was years ago.
Well, just this week Boatwright posted in his newsletter that he was taking a limited number of watercolor digital commissions. I usually am not interested in digital art for my collection, but getting another from Thomas Boatwright was just too sweet to pass on. I asked for his take on Sly as Dwight Manfredi from “Tulsa King” and Boatwright came through royally.
Sean Combs: The Reckoning (2025)
Executive Producer: Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson
Director: Alexandria Stapleton
Cast: Sean Combs, Tupac Shakur, The Notorious B.I.G., Janice Combs, Mark Curry, Kirk Burrowes, Aubrey O’Day, Suge Knight, Andre Harrell, Kalenna Harper, Al B. Sure!, Kim Porter, Cassie Ventura and Snoop Dogg.
Tagline: None.
The Plot…
Sean Combs: The Reckoning uses archival footage/interviews from the early 1990s to present day to cover the rise of Sean Combs from a college student intern to hip hop mogul to industry powerhouse able to put his name on a variety of products and make them best-sellers to a convicted felon doing several years in prison.
The four part documentary, through the use of archival news reports, court verdicts and interviews with accusers and those who claim to witnessed the events, details Sean Combs’ proven and or/alleged…
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
If only some of the allegations are true (and we know many are), Sean Combs is perfect example of how power can corrupt.
I am not a huge hip-hop fan, but I found the documentary compelling.
Sean Combs: The Reckoning (2025) rates 5 of 5 stars.
