Previews and Reviews that are Z's Views
Every year the Cartoon Art Museum does a fundraiser. Artists take on commissions with the funds raised going to support the Museum. It’s a great cause by awesome artists who share their talents in an effort to support the Museum.
This year one of the two artists I commissioned was Roy Chang. As you can see, I asked for Stallone from Get Carter and Keanu Reeves as John Wick. Mr. Chang came through like a champ!
Today we have a poster and trailer for Jade. This is one I’ll check out on streaming since we have drive-ins around here.
Deal me in.
JADE – Official Trailer | On Digital February 18
Official film page: https://www.wellgousa.com/films/jade
After her brother’s untimely and accidental death at her own hands, Jade swore she’d never pick up another gun. But when she unknowingly comes between powerful businessman “Tork” and her former gang leader in their urgent search for a valuable hard drive that could single-handedly take down Interpol, she may not have a choice. With the guidance of Reese, an old friend at Interpol, Jade must come to terms with all she’s faced in the past and present to safeguard her growing family’s future.
Directed by: James Bamford
Cast: Mickey Rourke, Katherine McNamara, Mark Dacascos, and Shaina West
Shutter Island (2010)
Director: Martin Scorsese
Screenplay: Laeta Kalogridis; based on SHUTTER ISLAND by Dennis Lehane
Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley, Max von Sydow, Michelle Williams, Patricia Clarkson, Ted Levine, John Carroll Lynch, Elias Koteas, Robin Bartlett, Nellie Sciutto, Joseph Sikora, Curtiss Cook, Joseph McKenna and Jackie Earle Haley.
Tagline: Someone is missing.
The Plot…
1954.
US Marshall Edward “Teddy” Daniels (DiCaprio) is sent to the Ashecliffe Hospital for the criminally insane. Only the most violent and mentally ill patients are housed there. The Ashecliffe Hospital sits on Shutter Island, located just outside of Boston Harbor. The island rests high above sea level, with sheer cliffs on all sides. The only way in or out is through a number of secured gates attached to the only pier.
Just before departing for Shutter Island Marshall Daniels meets his new partner Officer Chuck Aule (Ruffalo). Daniels and Aule arrive on Shutter Island just ahead of a hurricane that is rapidly approaching. Daniels brings Aule up to speed. They are there to find a missing patient named Rachel Solando. Solando was there because she drowned her three children. How she could have gotten off the island is a mystery. The fact that she cannot be found on the small island seems impossible. Daniels and Aule are there to resolve the case.
Daniels tells Aule that he asked for the case. Daniels goes on to say that another of the insane criminals housed on Shutter Island is arsonist Andrew Laeddis. One of Laeddis’ victims was Daniels wife who died in one of Laeddis’ fires.
As Daniels and Aule speak with the doctors and police officers on staff, Daniels begins to feel that things are not as they seem. The patient interviews add to Daniels’ concerns. When Daniels speaks to patient George Noyce privately, Noce informs him that the doctors are lying to him. Noyce goes on to say that patients are subjected to horrible experiments. Some are even lobotomized before they can speak out.
With this new knowledge, Daniels plans to leave the island and come back with support. The only problem is the hurricane keeping all boats away. Daniels and Officer Aule had been separated. When Daniels asks about Aule, he is told that he had no partner.
Daniels realizes he’s trapped on the island and nothing is as it seemed. Daniels is outnumbered and outgunned. He’s got to find a way to survive and escape… from a place where escape is impossible.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Shutter Island is based on Dennis Lehane’s book of the same name. Both the novel and the movie get my highest recommendation.
Shutter Island is an anagram for Truths and Lies. As Daniels gets deeper and deeper into the mystery, the weather gets worse and the skies darker. The storm passes and the skies clear, once the mystery is solved. Unfortunately sunny skies may not mean a happy ending.
There are subtle clues throughout the movie as to what is actually going on. I won’t give them away, because discovering them as you watch the film is part of the fun. There’s even more enjoyment watching the film again and seeing how everything is right before our eyes.
Shutter Island (2010) rates 5 of 5 stars.
We have a new trailer for Paradise starring Sterling K. Brown, Julianne Nicholson and James Marsden. This looks great.
Deal me in.
Starring Sterling K. Brown, James Marsden, and Julianne Nicholson.
Paradise is set in a serene, wealthy community inhabited by some of the world’s most prominent individuals. But this tranquility explodes when a shocking murder occurs and a high stakes investigation unfolds. Stream #ParadiseHulu on January 28.
Daredevil: Born Again looks good. This is coming from a guy who pretty much stopped watching mainstream superhero movies. Of course the Daredevil comic (especially under Frank Miller) always leaned heavily into crime stories.
Deal me in.
Marvel Television’s all-new series #DaredevilBornAgain premieres March 4 at 6pm PT/9pm ET. Only on @DisneyPlus.
The poster and (mainly) the trailer for The Alto Knights has moved that film to the top tier of my “must-see movies” list. My guess is that a ton of awards are in the future for all involved with this production.
Deal me in.
#TheAltoKnights starring Robert De Niro – only in theaters March 21.
From Warner Bros. Pictures, “The Alto Knights” stars Academy Award winner Robert De Niro in a dual role, directed by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Barry Levinson.
The film follows two of New York’s most notorious organized crime bosses, Frank Costello (De Niro) and Vito Genovese (De Niro), as they vie for control of the city’s streets. Once the best of friends, petty jealousies and a series of betrayals place them on a deadly collision course that will reshape the Mafia (and America) forever.
“The Alto Knights” was written by Oscar nominee Nicholas Pileggi (“Goodfellas”) and produced by Oscar winner Irwin Winkler (“Rocky,” “Goodfellas”), Levinson, Jason Sosnoff, Charles Winkler and David Winkler, with Mike Drake executive producing.
De Niro stars alongside Debra Messing (“Will & Grace”), Cosmo Jarvis (“Shōgun”), Kathrine Narducci (“The Irishman”), Michael Rispoli (“Billions”), Michael Adler (“Peppermint”), Ed Amatrudo (“Till,” “Nashville”), Joe Bacino (“Kick-Ass”), Anthony J. Gallo (“The Irishman”), Wallace Langham (“Ford v Ferrari”), Louis Mustillo (“Cooper’s Bar,” “Mike & Molly”), Frank Piccirillo, Matt Servitto (“Billions”) and Robert Uricola (“Raging Bull”).
Joining Levinson (“Rainman,” “Dopesick”) behind the camera are Oscar-nominated director of photography Dante Spinotti (“The Insider,” “L.A. Confidential”), production designer Neil Spisak (the “Spider-Man” films, “Dopesick”), Oscar-nominated editor Douglas Crise (“Babel,” “Dopesick”), Oscar-nominated costume designer Jeffrey Kurland (“Bullets Over Broadway,” “Tenet”), award-winning casting director Ellen Chenoweth (“Past Lives”) and composer David Fleming (“Hillbilly Elegy,” “Mr. & Mrs. Smith”).
Warner Bros. Pictures Presents an Irwin Winkler Production, a Barry Levinson Film, “The Alto Knights.” The film will be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures worldwide and released in theaters nationwide on March 21, 2025, and internationally beginning 19 March 2025.
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 Marv by Howie Noel.
A SINGLE SHOT by Matthew F. Jones
First sentence…
Before the sun is up, John Moon has showered, drunk two cups of coffee, and changed into his blue jeans, sweatshirt and Timberland hiking boots.
The Overview: Beware of Spoilers…
John Moon has lost a lot. First it was the family farm. Then his wife and child. His work at the factory doesn’t pay enough. Times are tough.
It’s not hunting season, but John decides to risk another poaching fine. John hikes deep into the woods. He spots a big stag and takes a shot. The wounded beast runs off. John doesn’t want the buck to suffer and tracks it. Deeper in the woods, John bends down to check the trail. He hears movement and looks up to see a flash of brown and white. John fires and hears the animal fall.
As John is walking to where the buck fell, he’s suddenly surprised by the wounded animal charging him. He’s gored in the shoulder as he strikes the stag with his rifle. The buck goes down and is soon out of its misery. John is confused. He thought he killed the buck with his second shot.
John pushed through the brush to where he heard the animal fall. It was a young woman. She’s dead. Killed by John. John’s sick. He broke the hunter’s code. Be sure of what you’re shooting before you pull the trigger. John considers his options. Turning himself in won’t change anything for the girl. It’ll destroy his family. And put him in prison. Why was she out here anyway?
John decides to bury her. He looks around. Nearby is a small cave opening. John decides that will be the girl’s final resting place. As he checks it out, John discovers a metal box full of money.
John makes another decision. It’s an easier one. He takes the money. Places the body in the cave. Says a prayer. Then does his best to remove any evidence he was there. Finished, John hikes out.
John is paranoid as the days pass. Bad men have a way of finding what’s theirs. And soon they will.
Rating:
Backfire (1950)
Director: Vincent Sherman
Screenplay: Ivan Goff, Larry Marcus, Ben Roberts; story by Larry Marcus
Stars: Edmond O’Brien, Virginia Mayo, Gordon MacRae, Dane Clark, Viveca Lindfors, Sheila MacRae, David Hoffman, Monte Blue, Russ Conway, John Daheim, John Dehner and Ed Begley.
Tagline: A double-cross that doubled back…with a blonde on the end of it!
The Plot…
1948. Although the war is over, Bob Corey (MacRae) is still in a military hospital recovering from injuries. One surgery to go and Bob will just need some rehab to be good as new. Then he plans to marry his nurse, Julie Benson (Mayo) and open a ranch with his best friend Steve Connelly (O’Brien). Bob and Steve have been best friends since serving together in the war. Steve regularly visits Bob… until he doesn’t show up one day.
Late one night as Bob recovers from his final surgery a strange woman appears in his room. She wakes Bob and tells him that Steve was crippled in a terrible accident. She says that Steve wants to die but she refuses to help him commit suicide. As Bob falls back to sleep, the woman disappears.
Bob leaves the hospital determined to find his friend. As he follows clues, Bob doesn’t get much help. The police are looking for Steve for other reasons. A gambler named Lou Walsh (whose very name scares people) seems involved some how. But who is Lou Walsh?
As Bob gets closer to the truth, people begin to get murdered. The killer now has his sights on Bob and his fiancé Julie.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
The movie was filmed in 1948, but not released until 1950. In those two years Mayo and MacRae had become bigger stars and so their names were moved up to the top in advertising materials.
Backfire (1950) rates 3 of 5 stars.
Nightmare (1956)
Director: Maxwell Shane
Screenplay: Maxwell Shane; based on And So to Death by Cornell Woolrich
Stars: Edward G. Robinson, Kevin McCarthy, Connie Russell, Virginia Christine, Gage Clarke, Marian Carr,
Barry Atwater, John Mitchum, Cosmo Sardo and Rhys Williams.
Tagline: None.
The Plot…
Stan Grayson (McCarthy) wakes from a restless night. Stan dreamed he had a fought and killed a man. When Stan notices strangle marks on his neck, blood on his wrist and a key that he’s never seen before, he begins to believe it wasn’t a dream.
Wracked with guilt and confusion, Stan tells his brother-in-law, New Orleans Detective Rene Bressard (Robinson) about the situation. Bressard assures Stan it was just a dream. Stan probably scratched himself as he was tossing and turning. Stan isn’t so sure.
Things take a turn for the worse when it is discovered that a man was killed where Stan’s “dream” took place. Only the man wasn’t the only one murdered! Is Stan a killer? Has he been set up?
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Nightmare features a creative opening and a great mystery set-up. Along the way we get a couple of unexpected turns.
If you’re a fan of mystery movies of this era, you should enjoy Nightmare.
Nightmare (1956) 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 Marv by Flavio Fernando Girón.
No One Lives (2012)
Director: Ryuhei Kitamura
Screenplay: David Cohen
Stars: Luke Evans, Gary Grubbs, Lee Tergesen, America Olivo, Beau Knapp, Rob Steinberg, Laura Ramsey, Michael ‘Mick’ Harrity and Tyrus.
Tagline: Everyone Runs. Everyone Hides. No One Lives.
The Plot…
While driving in a remote area on a cross-country moving trip, a couple is kidnapped by a gang of thieves. The thugs plan to rob the couple and steal their trailer. Everything changes when they discover something unexpected in the couple’s car trunk.
The thieves learn the meaning of “sometimes you get the bear and sometimes the bear gets you.”
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
The discovery in the trunk is a great plot twist. Unfortunately the movie then becomes very predictable.
No One Lives (2012) rates 2 of 5 stars.
The Dark Winds Season 3 teaser is here. I enjoyed the first two seasons, so bring on the third.
Deal me in.
The new season of #DarkWinds premieres March 9, exclusively on AMC and AMC+.
Killing Them Softly (2008)
Director: Andrew Dominik
Screenplay: Andrew Dominik based on COOGAN’S TRADE by George V. Higgins
Stars: Brad Pitt, Ray Liotta, Richard Jenkins, Scoot McNairy, Ben Mendelsohn, James Gandolfini, Vincent Curatola, Trevor Long, Max Casella, George Carroll, Linara Washington, Ross Brodar, Wade Allen, Christopher Berry, Dared Wright, Garret Dillahunt and Sam Shepard.
Tagline: In America you’re on your own.
The Plot…
Markie Trattman (Liotta) runs illegal poker nights for mobsters. Trattman got the smart idea to rob his own game. He hired two thugs to come in with guns and take down the cash only casino. Although it worked, Trattman was suspected. Since it was never confirmed that Tratman was behind the heist, he skated. It took a while, but Trattman brought the poker nights back.
Johnny “Squirrel” Amato (Curatola) has the bright idea to follow Trattman’s lead. Amato figures if the poker game is robbed, the mobsters will think Trattman decided to do it again. They’ll bump off Trattman without looking too deeply. Amato hires to low-life criminals to execute the robbery. Against all odds they succeed.
Just like Amato thought, Trattman is the main suspect. What Amato didn’t count on is the mobsters to bring in hitman and problem solver, Jackie Coogan (Pitt). Coogan is ordered to find out who pulled off the heist and do what he does best.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Killing Them Softly is perfectly cast. Even the smaller parts have memorable actors. Garret Dillahunt appears uncredited.
I enjoy this movie more with every re-watch.
Killing Them Softly (2008) rates 4 of 5 stars.
As we start 2025, let’s take a look at the BEST OF 2024. I hope you see something that you enjoyed or gets you interested to check out. Here we go…
Movies and Television Series
In 2024, I watched 396 movies and tv series. That number is down 13 from last year. My favorite films and limited series released in 2024 included (in alpha order):
Books
In 2024, I read 46 books (up 25 from last year) My favorites from this year included (in the order I read them):
My Most Popular Posts of the Year
I continue to find some surprises in what became my most popular posts each year. Here are the top ten for 2024 and some thoughts for each…
My All-Time Most Popular Posts
It’s always interesting to see which topics resonate with fans and continue to be popular long after their initial post.
