Previews and Reviews that are Z's Views
True Romance is such an under-rated film. I love that Matt Taylor has created an alt poster worthy of it!
“If there’s one thing this last week has taught me, it’s better to have a gun and not need it than to need a gun and not have it.” – Clarence Worley
Marv from Frank Miller’s Sin City is one of my all-time favorite characters. I love seeing artists do their “take” on the big lug. Today we have a Marv and Nancy by Eric Canate.
I like the looks of both the poster and trailer for Nemesis.
Deal me in.
NEMESIS, a new crime drama series from the creator of Power, starring Y’lan Noel and Matthew Law, drops May 14, only on Netflix.
A relentless LAPD cop becomes obsessed with taking down the master thief behind a string of daring heists — and only one can come out on top.
Brother Orchid (1940)
Director: Lloyd Bacon
Screenplay: Earl Baldwin; Jerry Wald (uncredited); Richard Macaulay (uncredited); based on Brother Orchid by Richard Connell
Stars: Edward G. Robinson, Ann Sothern, Humphrey Bogart, Donald Crisp, Ralph Bellamy, Cecil Kellaway, John Ridgely and Tom Tyler.
Tagline: Not Since “A Slight Case of Murder” has there been such a hysterical homicide, such mad mirth!
The Plot…
Little John Sarto rose from the streets to become head of a crime syndicate. He’s rich. People fear him, but he doesn’t want that. Sarto craves to be respected. To have… class.
So Sarto suddenly decides to give up his life of crime and become a gentleman of leisure. Sarto turns his syndicate over to his second in command, John Buck. He tells his girlfriend, Flo that he’s going to Europe and he’ll see her when he returns.
Things don’t go as planned in Europe. Every move Sarto makes is a bad one. He loses money on every deal. Five years pass and Sarto is broke. So he heads back to the states where he plans to regain control of his syndicate, and hook back up with Flo.
But it’s been five years.
Flo still loves Sarto, but thought he’d left for good. So she has a new man. John Buck and the crew felt abandoned when Sarto left. Buck isn’t going to give up control of the gang. So he puts out a hit on Sarto.
Sarto is caught off-guard and barely escapes with his life. He finds himself injured and outside of a monastery. The monks don’t recognize the infamous crime boss and take him in. Sarto plans to stay there until he heals…
… then he will get his revenge.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Brother Orchid is one of five films that Robinson and Bogart made together. It is the only one where neither of them is killed.
Brother Orchid (1940) rates 4 of 5 stars.
O.G. (2018)
Director: Madeleine Sackler
Screenplay: Stephen Belber
Stars: Jeffrey Wright, William Fichtner, Boyd Holbrook, Mare Winningham, Yul Vazquez, Ryan Cutrona, Ato Essandoh, Kevin Jackson and David Patrick Kelly.
Tagline: None.
The Plot…
Louis has spent the last 24 years in prison for murder. Over time, Louis turned his life around. He distanced himself from prison gangs. He worked to make his life a positive contribution. Louis’ good behavior and true rehabilitation has earned him parole in the next few weeks…
… if nothing changes.
Gang tensions are rising. When a new young inmate is brought into the prison, Louis sees the kid being set up to take a fall. If Louis intervenes he risks his own release. If he does nothing, the kid could be killed or worse.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Jeffrey Wright is an amazing actor.
O.G. was filmed at the Indiana Pendleton Correctional Facility, a maximum security prison. Many of the prisoners and guards were actual prisoners and guards.
O.G. (2018) rates 3 of 5 stars.
Marv from Frank Miller’s Sin City is one of my all-time favorite characters. I love seeing artists do their “take” on the big lug. Today we have a Marv by Fabrice Le Hénanff.
Vincent N Roxxy (2016)
Director: Gary Michael Schultz
Screenplay: Gary Michael Schultz
Stars: Emile Hirsch, Zoë Kravitz, Emory Cohen, Kid Cudi, Jason Mitchell, Jeff Gum, Jared Bankens, Lance Tafelski, Hunter Burke and Beau Knapp.
Tagline: Love is a Crime
The Plot…
Vincent is driving through a small town when he sees a man beating a woman. Vincent rams the man with his car. Then the woman jumps in Vincent’s car and they speed away.
Vincent learns the young woman’s name is Roxxy. He says that he is returning home for the first time in a while and offers her a place to stay until she gets on her feet. Vincent’s brother is happily surprised at Vincent’s return. He is getting ready to open a garage and offers Vincent a partnership. Vincent agrees.
Things are going well with the garage, and Roxxy’s job as a bartender. Vincent and Roxxy are falling in love.
And then a secret from Vincent’s past surfaces… and the man who beat Roxxy learns where she’s at.
Things are about to take a turn for the very worst.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
I’m a Zoë Kravitz fan.
Beau Knapp is very good as the jealous ex-boyfriend of Roxxy’s friend.
Vincent N Roxxy (2016) rates 2 of 5 stars.
I dig how creepy this Psycho alt poster is. Not only does it showcase the two very different sides of Norman Bates, but it also includes mother’s house. This beauty was created by Sahin Düzgün. Sahin is a graphic designer, poster artist and movie lover from Berlin, Germany.
Here is what Sahin had to say about his design:🔪 A shadow, a scream, a moment that redefined suspense. A personal design tribute to Hitchcock’s chilling masterpiece.
Norman Bates: I think I must have one of those faces you can’t help believing.
Alex Ogle’s riff on Sly Stallone as Jack Carter is a banger.
Alex Ogle is a freelance artist and storyteller. I love Ogle’s use of stark contrast and negative space. He says, “My favorite part of my illustrations are the sections I don’t draw.” That reminds me of Alex Toth’s famous quote: “Strip it all down to essentials and draw the hell out of what’s left.” That’s not easy to do, but Ogle has mastered it.
You can see more of Alex Ogle’s art at his website and his Instagram page.
Who Killed Teddy Bear? (1965)
Director: Joseph Cates
Screenplay: Arnold Drake, Leon Tokatyan; story by Arnold Drake
Stars: Sal Mineo, Juliet Prowse, Jan Murray, Elaine Stritch, Frank Campanella, Bruce Glover, Tom Aldredge, Rex Everhart and Daniel J. Travanti.
Tagline: Recommended for Mature Audiences
The Plot…
Norah Dain dreams of being an actress. In the meantime she works as a nightclub dj. Norah’s life is turned upside down, when she begins receiving obscene phone calls. The caller knows what she is doing daily. It’s frightening to think that he’s stalking her. Norah gets the police involved when a decapitated teddy bear is left in her apartment.
Detective Dave Madden is assigned to the case. When Madden suggests that anyone, including himself could be the caller, Norah becomes concerned. She learns that Madden is still dealing with the loss of his wife who was raped and murdered.
Could Detective Madden be Norah’s stalker? Or someone even worse?
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Arnold Drake who came up with the story and co-wrote the screenplay for Who Killed Teddy Bear had a career writing comic book stories. Drake was the co-creator of many characters including The Guardians of the Galaxy, Deadman, The Doom Patrol, Havok, Polaris and others.
The camera loves Juliet Prowse. Sadly Who Killed Teddy Bear? would be the last time she would appear in a feature film. For the remainer of her career she performed on television and stage.
The film straddles the line between noir and exploitation. And features some suprising scenes for its time.
Watch for a young Daniel J. Travanti, who would in 16 years gain fame for his role as Captain Frank Furillo on Hill Street Blues.
Who Killed Teddy Bear? (1965) rates 3 of 5 stars.
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)
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.
Marv from Frank Miller’s Sin City is one of my all-time favorite characters. I love seeing artists do their “take” on the big lug. Today we have a Marv and Nancy by David Finch.
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.
The Breed (2001)
Director: Michael Oblowitz
Screenplay: Christos N. Gage, Ruth Fletcher
Stars: Adrian Paul, Bokeem Woodbine, Bai Ling, James Booth, Ming Lo, Paul Collins, Reed Diamond, John Durbin, Zen Gesner and William Hootkins.
Tagline: Vampires Live Amongst Us
The Plot…
Another time. Another place.
Detective Stephen Grant’s partner is killed when the two are following leads on a recent series of bizarre murders. The murderer, a tale pale man, is shot several times to no effect. The killer escapes by climbing up a sheer building wall.
After Detective Grant files his report, he is brought in for a secret meeting. Grant learns that the killer is a vampire. Although reluctant to believe, Grant is introduced to his new partner, Detective Aaron Gray. Detective Gray is also a vampire.
Grant learns that vampires live among us. Most want to live among humans in peace. To that end, they have made themselves known to government leaders. However a minority of vampires don’t trust humans. The murderer is one of them.
Grant and Gray are assigned to track down the serial killing vampire and put an end to him. What Grant and Gray don’t know is that a conspiracy to wipe-out all vampires is being put in place by humans distrustful of the vampires’ intent.
Neither the humans plotting to kill all vampires nor the vampires distrustful of humans want Detectives Grant and Gray to succeed.
That makes them expendable.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
I like the premise and setting of the film. Vampires living among us and wanting a peaceful integration while some vampires and humans are fearful of that seems logical. Having the film take place in a recognizable but slightly different future worked for me.
The Breed is an interesting mash-up of a buddy movies, conspiracy films, horror, a touch of romance, sci-fi, and alternate reality that just misses the mark for being better than good. But good isn’t bad. I enjoyed The Breed, but hoped it would be better.
The Breed (2001) rates 3 of 5 stars.
