Category: Crime

A DANGEROUS MAN by J.L. Engel / Z-View

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A DANGEROUS MAN by J. L. Engel

First sentences…

“9-1-1. What’s your…”

The emergency operator’s standard question was cut short by the sporadic sounds of gunfire.

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

A DANGEROUS MAN features one of the most compelling openings to any book you’ll ever read.  A little girl, hidden in a closet, is one the phone with 9-1-1.  In the background gunfire is heard getting closer and closer.  The child is panicked, the operator is doing her best to determine the location of the call to send help… then the operator hears this:

“Listen closely… Anna is safe.  I’m going to give you an address where to find her and get her home.”

And this…

“When the police arrive, they’ll find Anna locked in a conference room on the second tier.  It’s up the stairs and to the left.  What they’ll find below is much more disturbing.  I advise the police to enter with extreme caution.. As best I can tell I’ve killed everyone else.  Except for the other victims.”

THAT is our introduction to a vigilante the FBI has labeled Ghost.  Ghost is a former government operative whose family was killed by a Russian crime cartel led by Yuri “The Wolf” Kurikova.  Ghost is working his way up the food chain intent on killing “The Wolf” and destroying his organization.

So far, Ghost has been unstoppable.  He’s 6’5″ and 260 pounds of muscle.  Although grieving for his family, Ghost has turned the misery into an unquenchable rage.  Using his skills, Ghost has trail of bodies across the country as he gets closer to taking down The Wolf.

The F.B.I. have been a step behind. They’ve assigned Cameron Slate to lead the investigation to bringing down the Ghost.  Slate is closing in.

The Wolf has hired twin assassins, Nikolai and Natasha to find and kill Ghost.  The twins’ abilities rival those of Ghost.  And they may have the edge given Natasha’s brutality and love of violence.

It will all come to a head in Boston.

If you like all out action, characters like John Wick, Frank Castle and John Creasey, then  A DANGEROUS MAN is for you.

Rating:

“Lady in the Lake” (1946) directed and starring Robert Montgomery, also starring Audrey Totter and Lloyd Nolan / Z-View

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Lady in the Lake (1946)

Director:  Robert Montgomery

Screenplay: Steve Fisher; based THE LADY IN THE LAKE by Raymond Chandler

Stars: Robert Montgomery, Audrey Totter, Lloyd Nolan, Tom Tully, Leon Ames, Dick Simmons, Morris Ankrum, Lila Leeds, Charles Bradstreet and Jayne Meadows.

Tagline: YOU AND ROBERT MONTGOMERY STAR IN AN EXCITING AND UNUSUAL MYSTERY-THRILLER -EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS TO HIM HAPPENS TO YOU!

The Plot…

Private Eye, Phillip Marlowe decides to take a shot at writing.  When Marlowe is called into the publisher’s office, he thinks they want to buy his story.  Adrienne Fromsett, is the publishing editor.  She wants to buy Marlowe’s story.  She also wants to hire Marlowe to find Chrystal Kingsby.  Chrystal is her boss’ wife.  She hasn’t been seen for two months.

After some back and forth, Marlowe accepts the job.  What sounds like a missing person’s case turns out to be a multiple murder investigation.  And Marlowe is the main suspect.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The film is shot from the viewpoint of Marlowe.  The only time he is seen is by reflections in mirrors and windows or when he speaks directly to the audience.  It’s odd seeing this decades before video games made it popular.

Lady in the Lake (1946) rates 3 of 5 stars

“CAUGHT STEALING” screenplay by Charlie Huston, directed by Darren Aronofsky, starring Austin King, Regina King & Zoe Kravitz – The Trailer is Here!

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The trailer for Caught Stealing is here and I am sold.

The film’s based on Charlie Huston’s novel CAUGHT STEALING.  I’ve been a fan of the book (and Charlie Huston) since I first read it nearly two decades ago.  CAUGHT STEALING is the first of a trilogy that gets my highest recommendation.  I hope the movie can match the level of excellence.

He was just supposed to watch the cat. Now he’s running for his f**king life.

Austin Butler stars in Darren Aronofsky’s #CaughtStealingMovie – only in theatres August 29.

Hank Thompson (Austin Butler) was a high-school baseball phenom who can’t play anymore, but everything else is going okay. He’s got a great girl (Zoë Kravitz), tends bar at a New York dive, and his favorite team is making an underdog run at the pennant.

When his punk-rock neighbor Russ (Matt Smith) asks him to take care of his cat for a few days, Hank suddenly finds himself caught in the middle of a motley crew of threatening gangsters. They all want a piece of him; the problem is he has no idea why. As Hank attempts to evade their ever-tightening grip, he’s got to use all his hustle to stay alive long enough to find out…

Caught Stealing is directed by Academy Award® nominee Darren Aronofsky, screenplay by Charlie Huston, based on his book of the same name.

The film stars Austin Butler, Regina King, Zoë Kravitz, Matt Smith, Liev Schreiber, Vincent D’Onofrio, Griffin Dunne, Benito A Martínez Ocasio, and Carol Kane.

Directed by: Darren Aronofsky

Screenplay by: Charlie Huston

Based on the book by: Charlie Huston

Produced by: Jeremy Dawson, Dylan Golden, Ari Handel, Darren Aronofsky

Executive Producers: Charlie Huston, Ann Ruark

Cast:
Austin Butler
Regina King
Zoë Kravitz
Matt Smith
Liev Schreiber
Vincent D’Onofrio
Griffin Dunne
Benito A Martínez Ocasio
Carol Kane

Credits not final

 

“Don’t Touch the Loot” aka “Grisbi” (1954) directed by Jacques Becker, starring Jean Gabin / Z-View

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Don’t Touch the Loot aka Grisbi (1954)

Director:  Jacques Becker

Screenplay: Jacques Becker, Albert Simonin, Maurice Griffe; based Touchez pas au grisbi by Albert Simonin

Stars: Jean Gabin, René Dary, Dora Doll.

Tagline: From the demi-mondes of Paris…with its pimps, its pushers, its passions, from the world of “RIFIFI” and “RAZZIA”…an electrifying adventure in suspense!

The Plot…

Max has beaten the odds.  He’s a criminal who reached middle age without going to prison or worse getting killed.  What’s better is that Max and Riton, his trusted crime partner, recently pulled off a heist of gold bars worth millions.  More than enough for both Max and Riton to give up their life of crime and retire.

One night shortly after the heist, Max meets Riton at a nightclub.  Riton has brought along Josy, his latest girlfriend.  Josy’s a dancer half Riton’s age.  Later that evening Max spots Josy making out with a young man.

When Max is heading home for the night, he notices he’s being followed.  He gets the drop on the thugs and sends them running.  Max calls Riton to warn him.  Max then picks up Riton and takes him to a safe house. Riton admits that he told Josy about their latest score to impress her.  They realize that Josy has sold them out.

The next day Max meets with his uncle who will fence the gold.  When Max calls to update Riton, he learns that Riton has been kidnapped.  The thugs want the gold bars in exchange for Riton’s safe return.

Max is promised a simple trade and nobody will get hurt.  Don’t count on it.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

It’s interesting that Jacques Becker doesn’t focus on the theft of the gold bars (in fact it happens prior to the start of the film).  I like the pace of the film.  Jean Gabin is perfect as Max, the world weary criminal who is so close to living the dream.  Max reminded me a bit of Mike McClusky (Mayor of Kingstown) and Harry (Mobland) in his ability/ways to deal with situations/people.

Don’t Touch the Loot aka Grisbi (1954) rates 5 of 5 stars

“Compulsion” (1959) directed by Richard Fleischer, starring Orson Welles, Dean Stockwell, Diane Varsi and Bradford Dillman / Z-View

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Compulsion (1959)

Director:  Richard Fleischer

Screenplay: Richard Murphy; based on COMPULSION by Meyer Levin

Stars: Orson Welles, Dean Stockwell, Diane Varsi, Bradford Dillman, E.G. Marshall, Martin Milner, Richard Anderson, Robert F. Simon, Edward Binns, Robert Burton, Louise Lorimer, John Alban, Don Anderson, Terry Becker, Russ Bender and Gavin MacLeod .

Tagline: You know why we did it? Because we damn well felt like doing it!

The Plot…

Judd Steiner and Artie Straus are best friends.  It’s only natural.  They have much in common.  Both are from wealthy families.  They travel in the most elite social circles.  Both Judd and Artie have superior intellects.  Although still in their late teens, they’re law students.

Judd and Artie see everyone as less than them.  They feel because they are so intellectually superior laws don’t apply to them.  To that end, they have been committing small crimes just to prove they’re are so smart that they would never be caught.

Then they decide to commit the ultimate crime.

Murder.

They pick a young boy at random and kill him.

They’re confident that they left no clues.  And even more sure that if they did, with their superior intellect, no one could trip them up.

The best laid plans…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Compulsion is based on the real life murder trial of Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb. Leopold and Loeb kidnapped and murdered a fourteen year old boy.  They did it to prove to themselves their superior intellect would allow them to commit the perfect crime.  Their families hired Clarence Darrow to defend them.  At the time, the case was considered the trial of the century.

When the film came out, Leopold sued for invasion of privacy.  Because he had written a book about the crime himself, he didn’t prevail. (Loeb wasn’t involved in the lawsuit.  He had been killed by another prison years before.)

Orson Welles received top billing but doesn’t appear on screen until 65 minutes into the 99 minute film.

It’s hard for me to believe that Compulsion wasn’t nominated for a single Academy Award.  I could see nominations for Best Screenplay, Best Direction, Best Actor (Dean Stockwell and Bradford Dillman) and Best Supporting Actor (Orson Welles).

Alfred Hitchcock did his own loose adaption of the Leopold-Loeb murder with his film Rope.

Compulsion (1959) rates 5 of 5 stars

“Count the Hours” (1953) directed by Don Siegel, starring Teresa Wright & Macdonald Carey / Z-View

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Count the Hours (1953)

Director:  Don Siegel

Screenplay: Doane R. Hoag, Karen DeWolf; story by Doane R. Hoag

Stars: Teresa Wright, Macdonald Carey, Dolores Moran, Adele Mara, Edgar Barrier, Ralph Dumke and Jack Elam.

Tagline: Strange things happen in the night!

The Plot…

Late one night, Fred Morgan and his live-in housekeeper are killed during a home invasion/robbery.  The next morning the bodies are discovered and the police arrive.  George and Ellen Braden are the first to be questioned.

George and Ellen Braden live in a small house on the farm and assist with the chores.  George says they didn’t hear anything.  His wife says she heard gunshots and told George.  This makes the police suspicious. The couple are brought in for more questioning.  Sixteen hours later George says he’ll sign anything to get them to let up on his wife.

George is charged with the murder of Fred Morgan and his housekeeper.  Doug Madison is assigned to serve as George’s defense counsel.  Doug starts out believing George is guilty.  Slowly as Doug digs into the case, he changes his mind.  With all the evidence pointing to guilt and George’s life on the line, the clock is ticking.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Count the Hours is a low budget thriller made in just 9 days!

John Alton, the Director of Photography, was given a budget of $4,000.00 for all of the equipment for rigging (overhead lighting, cables, brackets, piping, etc.).  Alton told the Producer that if he was given a raise of $2,000.00 to his salary, he would do it without rigging.  The lack of traditional studio lighting greatly contributes to the film’s atmosphere.

Director Don Siegel’s sixth outing as a feature film director.  His excellent direction (along with John Alton’s lighting) help make this low budget thriller a winner.

Count the Hours (1953) rates 3 of 5 stars

“Brawl in Cell Block 99” (2017) written & directed by S. Craig Zahler, starring Vince Vaughn and Don Johnson / Z-View

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Brawl in Cell Block 99 (2017)

Director:  S. Craig Zahler

Screenplay: S. Craig Zahler

Stars: Vince Vaughn, Jennifer Carpenter, Don Johnson, Victor Almanzar, Willie C. Carpenter, Mustafa Shakir, Clark Johnson, Michael Medeiros, Jonathan Lee and Tom Guiry.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Bradley Thomas is a 6’5″ bruiser with an anger problem.  When Bradley is laid off and unable to get work, he turns to dealing drugs.  Things go well for a while.  Then Bradley’s boss gets a new partner named Eleazar.  When Bradley is sent on a delivery with two of Eleazar’s thugs, things go sideways.  After a shootout with the police, Bradley is arrested, tried and sentenced to seven years in a medium-security prison.

Eleazar reaches out to Bradley.  Eleazar threatens to kill Bradley unborn child unless Bradley kills another inmate.  The problem is the other inmate is in Redleaf, a maximum security prison reserved for the worst of the worst.

Bradley does what he must to get transferred to Redleaf.  Once there, Bradley is the target of Warden Tuggs and the guards.  Worse still, Bradley learns that Eleazar and his gang on inmates of the prison.  Bradley has been set up for execution.

With no options and only a desire to save his wife and unborn child, Bradley prepares for what comes next.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

If you only know Vince Vaughn from comedies, check out Brawl in Cell Block 99.  You’ll believe he’s a thug.  He put on 15 pounds of muscle working out for the role.

Don Johnson is excellent.

S. Craig Zahler wrote Brawl in Cell Block 99 before Bone Tomahawk.

Brawl in Cell Block 99 (2017) rates 5 of 5 stars

“Bad Times at the El Royale” (2018) written/directed by Drew Goddard, starring Jeff Bridges, Cynthis Erivo, Dakota Johnson, Jon Hamm, Cailee Spaeny, Lewis Pullman and Chris Hemsworth / Z-View

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Bad Times at the El Royale (2018)

Director:  Drew Goddard

Screenplay: Drew Goddard

Stars: Jeff Bridges, Cynthia Erivo, Dakota Johnson, Mayo Methot, Jon Hamm, Chris Hemsworth, Cailee Spaeny, Lewis Pullman, Nick Offerman, Mark O’Brien, Charles Halford and Shea Whigham.

Tagline: Seven strangers. Seven secrets. All roads lead here.

The Plot…

1959.  The El Royale used to be THE place to stay.  Now it’s luster is gone.  Felix O’Kelly checks in and hides a bag of money under the floorboards of a room.  Not long after, O’Kelly’s partner shows up.

And kills O’Kelly.

Ten years pass.  The El Royale is a dump.

One night four strangers arrive separately and check into separate rooms.   The four are: a priest named Daniel Flynn, a singer named Darlene Sweet, a salesman named Laramie Seymour Sullivan and a free spirit who calls herself Emily Summerspring.  Some of the four are not as they appear.  Among them is an FBI agent on a mission for J. Edgar Hoover.  One is looking for the missing bag of money.  The night will also involve a kidnapping, a cult and murder(s).

This night will be full of bad times at the El Royale.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Bad Times at the El Royale is under-rated.  Kudos to writer/director Drew Goddard and his great cast.

Bad Times at the El Royale (2018) rates 4 of 5 stars

“Dark Winds” Season 3 (2025) starring Zahn McClarnon, Kiowa Gordon, Jessica Matten, Deanna Allison and A. Martinez / Z-View

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Dark Winds Season 3 (2025)

Created by: Graham Roland

Director:  Chris Eyre (Eps 1, 4, 8), Michael Nankin (Eps 2, 3), Billy Luther (Ep. 5); Erica Tremblay (Ep. 6); Steven Paul Judd (Ep. 7)

Teleplay by:  John Wirth & Steven Paul Judd (Eps. 1, 5, 8), Rhiana Yazzie (Ep. 2),  Max Hurwitz & Billy Luther (Eps. 3, 6), Thomas Brady & Erica Tremblay (Eps. 4, 7) // Based on the Leaphorn & Chee novels by Tony Hillerman

Starring:  Zahn McClarnon, Kiowa Gordon, Jessica Matten, Deanna Allison, A Martinez, Tonantzin Carmelo, Alex Meraz, Derek Hinkey, Terry Serpico, Jenna Elfman, Flora Amanda, Raoul Max Trujillo, Christopher Heyerdahl, Carly Roland, Joseph Runningfox, Bodhi Okuma Linton, Robert Knepper, Ryan Begay, Bruce Greenwood and Jeri Ryan.

Tagline:  None

The Plot… (beware of spoilers)

Sheriff Joe Leaphorn (McClarnon) and his deputy Jim Chee (Gordon) are trying to locate a missing Navajo boy.  Leaphorn and Chee learn the missing boy witnessed a murder.  The killer is on the kid’s trail as well.  Matters are complicated when FBI agent Sylvia Washington shows up to investigate a murder case.  Joe Leaphorn is her main suspect.  Leaphorn’s marriage begins to fall apart when Special Agent Washington informs Leaphorn’s wife that her husband may be a murderer.  

Bernadette Manuelito is settling in to her new job as a border patrol cop.  Any job is hard when you’re the rookie. Manuelito is put into a tough situation when she discovers that an influential, rich landowner may be involved with drug running.  Advised to back off, she digs deeper.  Learning that at least one person in her department is on the take, Manuelito doesn’t know who to trust.  Her time is running out, since she’s now a target of a former CIA assassin.

Thoughts 

Dark Winds: Season 3 builds on the actions Joe Leaphorn took in season 2.  It’s not often we see the ramifications of a character impacting others.  The relationship between Joe and Emma seems real.

I liked the dual mysteries presented this season.

Dark Winds provides the best creep/scary villains.  Raoul Max Trujillo as Budge Baca continues the tradition.

Zahn McClarnon, Kiowa Gordon, Jessica Matten and Deanna Allison have real chemistry.  I look forward to Season 4.

“Marked Woman” (1937) starring Bette Davis and Humphrey Bogart / Z-View

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Marked Woman (1937)

Director:  Lloyd Bacon, Michael Curtiz (uncredited)

Screenplay: Robert Rossen, Abem Finkel, Seton I. Miller (uncredited)

Stars: Bette Davis, Humphrey Bogart, Isabel Jewell, Mayo Methot, Eduardo Ciannelli, Raymond Hatton, William B. Davidson, Kenneth Harlan, Robert Strange and Allen Jenkins.

Tagline: A Star Teaming You’ll Never Forget!

The Plot…

Johnny Vanning (Ciannelli) controls all the rackets.  Vanning owns all the city’s hot spots. If  you want a night out with booze, gambling and women, Vanning will be getting a kickback.  Vanning’s latest purchase is a night club he names Club Intimate.  Before the club reopens Vanning meets with the “hostesses” – Mary, Gabby, Emmy Lou, Florrie, and Estelle.  Vanning makes it clear he expects the girls to push the booze, encourage the gambling and give the men whatever they want.

Mary (Davis) doesn’t like the new direction or Vanning.  She needs the money though, since she’s putting her kid sister through college.  One of Mary’s dates drinks waay to much (and orders drinks for the group). He then tops it off by losing big time at the craps table.  At the end of the evening he writes a check for his loses and the booze.

On the way to dropping Mary off, the man laughs, telling her the check will bounce and he’s had a great time.  Mary is shocked.  This rube thinks he’ll catch a plane back home and all will be forgotten.  Mary makes it clear that Vanning has killed for a lot less.  The man’s only hope is to leave right away.  He agrees.

The next morning, the police show up at Mary’s door.  Her “date” was found murdered.  David Graham (Bogart), the District Attorney, knows that Mary could be the witness that finally brings down Vanning.  Mary knows how Vanning deals with snitches.  Plus there’s her sister she needs to worry about.

Mary’s in a tough spot and it’s about to get worse.

 

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

For a hospital scene, Bette Davis’ character is to have been badly beaten.  Her face is bruises and her head bandaged.  The make-up department didn’t want to obscure Davis’ face. So few bandages were used.  When the crew broke for lunch, Bette Davis went to her personal doctor. She described the damage her character was to have.  The doc then put on appropriate coverings.  When Davis returned to the lot, the gate guard saw her and phoned Hal B. Wallis (the film’s executive producer) to say Miss Davis had been in an accident.

Although married, Humphrey Bogart fell in love with  Mayo Methot during filming.  Once Bogart divorced his second wife, he married Methot.  That marriage lasted until 1945 when he fell in love with Lauren Bacall during filming of To Have and Have Not.

Michael Curtiz filmed some scenes when director Lloyd Bacon was on his honeymoon.

Bette Davis shines in this role.

Marked Woman (1937) rates 3 of 5 stars

“Cowboy Bebop” (2021) starring John Cho, Mustafa Shakir and Daniella Pineda / Z-View

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Cowboy Bebop (2021)

Created by: Christopher Yost

Based on: Cowboy Bebop by Sunrise; Cowboy Bebop: The Movie – Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door by Sunrise, Bandai Namco Arts Bones

Directors:  Alex García López (Eps. 1-2, 5, 7-8); Michael Katleman (Eps. 3-4, 6, 9-10)

Screenplay: Christopher Yost (Ep.1 from story by Christopher Yost, 10); Sean Cummings (Ep. 2); Christopher Yost & Sean Cummings (Ep. 3, story by Christopher Yost); Vivian Lee (Ep. 4); Liz Sagal (Ep. 5); Karl Taro Greenfeld (Ep. 6); Alexandra E. Hartman (Ep. 7); Javier Grillo-Marxuach (Ep. 8); Jennifer Johnson (Ep. 9)

Stars: John Cho, Mustafa Shakir, Daniella Pineda, Elena Satine, Alex Hassell, Tamara Tunie, Geoff Stults, Mason Alexander Park, Molly Moriarty, Rachel House, Christine Dunford, Lucy Currey and John Noble.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

The year is 2071. Spike Spiegel, Jet Black and Faye Valentine are bounty hunters who travel the galaxy looking for the worst criminals to make the most money.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Cowboy Bebop is based on the 1998 Japanese neo-noir space Western anime television series. It is stylish and fun. I’d never seen the original series but I really enjoyed this one and was disappointed that there wouldn’t be a second season.

Cowboy Bebop (2021) rates 4 of 5 stars