Category: Crime

“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

“Riffraff” (1947) starring Pat O’Brien, Walter Slezak and Anne Jeffreys / Z-View

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Riffraff (1947)

Director:  Ted Tetzlaff

Screenplay: Martin Rackin

Stars: Pat O’Brien, Walter Slezak, Anne Jeffreys, Jerome Cowan, George Givot, Marc Krah, William Alland, Bobby Barber and Percy Kilbride.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

A plane leaves Peru for Panama with just two passengers.  The plane lands with just one.  His name is Charles Hasso (Krah).

Hasso immediately hires Dan Hammer (O’Brien) to be his bodyguard for two days.  Before Hammer can start, he gets a call from Walter Gredson (Cowan), a big shot oil executive.  Gredson says that a man, with a map of wildcat oil wells was coming to meet him.  The man got on the plane in Peru but never made it to Panama.  Charles Hasso was the other passenger.  Gredson believes Hasso now has the map.  Gredson offers Hammer a lot of money to find Hasso and the map.

Dan Hammer is a tough guy who is known as a man who can get things done.  This time he may be in over his head.  Especially when Eric Molinar (Slezak) gets in the mix.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Riffraff opens with six and a half minutes of scenes without dialogue.  It is considered one of movies’ classic openings/sequences.

Pat O’Brien doesn’t look like a typical tough PI, but more than holds his own in that department.

Riffraff (1947) rates 4 of 5 stars

THE KNIVES: A CRIMINAL BOOK by Ed Brubaker & Sean Phillips is Coming!

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A new CRIMINAL book from Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips has been a long time coming.  Thankfully, the wait is coming to an end in September when THE KNIVES is released.  Here’s the lowdown…

THE FIRST NEW CRIMINAL BOOK IN FIVE YEARS!

With the Prime Video adaptation premiering soon, crime comic grandmasters Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips return to their most acclaimed series with a new standalone graphic novel: THE KNIVES.

A sprawling CRIMINAL epic, THE KNIVES is the most ambitious tale Brubaker and Phillips have ever tackled. Three dark journeys wind around each other over a decade, like sharks hunting for a kill.

Cartoonist Jacob Kurtz goes to Hollywood in the era of peak TV to work on an adaptation of his comic strip, only to find himself caught up in the life of his aging aunt and the vultures circling her estate. Angie was raised at the Undertow, but now everything she loves has been taken from her. She’s on the streets with vengeance on her mind, her eyes set on the city’s kingpin. And finally, Tracy Lawless is home from the Special Forces, finally a civilian again, but he’s in bad shape and this city has always brought out the worst in him.

These three tales collide in THE KNIVES a breathtaking noir story about greed, ambition, heartbreak, and blood ties. A must-have for all Brubaker and Phillips fans!

Click on the preview art below for a biggie-sized version.

Pre-orders available now.

“Three the Hard Way” (1974) starring Jim Brown, Fred Williamson and Jim Kelly / Z-View

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Three the Hard Way (1974)

Director:  Gordon Parks Jr.

Screenplay: Eric Bercovici, Jerrold L. Ludwig

Stars: Jim Brown, Fred Williamson, Jim Kelly, Sheila Frazier, Jay Robinson, Richard Angarola, Marian Collier,
Alex Rocco, Corbin Bernsen and Howard Platt.

Tagline: Action explodes all over the place when the big three join forces to save their race!

The Plot…

When Jimmy Lait’s (Brown) friend unexpectedly shows up with a gunshot wound, Lait gets him to a hospital.  Almost delirious and dying, Lait’s friend says “they’re going to kill us all… just us”.  Later that night, Lait’s friend is executed.

Lait does some digging and learns that a white supremist group plans to poison the water supply of Detroit, Washington, D.C. and LA.  The poison is fatal only to African Americans.  Lait recruits two of his friends, Jagger Daniels (Williamson) and Mister Keyes (Kelly) to help him take down the Neo-Nazis before they can wipe out thousands.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

When I was in ninth grade my girlfriend and I went to see Three the Hard Way.  It was playing as part of a double feature with Return of the Dragon.  When my girlfriend (now my wife) realized the plot of Three the Hard Way, she whispered, “We’re the only white people in here.”  I said, “We’ll be alright.”  And of course we were.  I liked Three the Hard Way a lot better seeing it in a theater in the ninth grade.

Three the Hard Way features Corbin Bernsen’s first credited feature film role.  Corbin’s father was co-producer of the film.

If you’re a fan of kung fu and blaxploitation movies, you should enjoy Three the Hard Way.

Three the Hard Way (1974) rates 2 of 5 stars

“Black Belt Jones” (1974) starring Jim Kelly / Z-View

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Black Belt Jones (1974)

Director:  Robert Clouse

Screenplay: Oscar Williams, story by Fred Weintraub, Alexandra Rose

Stars: Jim Kelly, Gloria Hendry, Scatman Crothers, Alan Weeks, Andre Philippe, Eddie Smith, Alex Brown, Earl Jolly Brown, Marla Gibbs, Ted Lange, Robert Wall  and Eric Laneuville.

Tagline: Enter Jim ”Dragon” Kelly. He clobbers the mob as BLACK BELT JONES.

The Plot…

When the mafia learns of a new civic center set to be constructed, they buy up all of the land except for one building.  It is owned by “Pop” Byrd and houses his karate dojo.  When “Pop” refuses to sell out, they send in a local drug dealer and his crew.  They figure after a beating or two, “Pop’ will happily sell out.

They didn’t know “Pop” was friends with Black Belt Jones.  Their mistake.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

 Warner Bros. made Black Belt Jones after the success of Enter the Dragon (and death of Bruce Lee).  Black Belt Jones reteams Enter the Dragon‘s director, Robert Claus and co-star Jim Kelly.  The film was marketed to make sure fans wouldn’t miss the connection.

If you’re a fan of kung fu and blaxploitation movies, you should enjoy Black Belt Jones.

Black Belt Jones (1974) rates 3 of 5 stars

The RETURN OF THE MALTESE FALCON by Max Allan Collins is Coming!

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Dashiell Hammet’s THE MALTESE FALCON is not only a classic noir novel, but also the same could be said for the 1941 John Huston (writer/director) movie adaptation.  On January 6, 2026, Max Allan Collins and Hard Case Crime present RETURN OF THE MALTESE FALCON.  Here’s the lowdown…

Hardboiled noir that picks up where legendary author Dashiell Hammett left off, telling the story of iconic private eye Sam Spade and the quest for the priceless Maltese Falcon.

THE GREATEST PRIVATE EYE OF ALL TIME RETURNS TO FINISH THE JOB

Legendary mystery writer Dashiell Hammett only wrote one novel about detective Sam Spade: THE MALTESE FALCON, the most famous private eye story ever told. But the case was never really solved – the priceless golden, bejeweled bird that men and women had been dying to possess turned out to be a fake.

Now, Mystery Writers of America Grand Master Max Allan Collins (author of ROAD TO PERDITION) brings closure to this crime classic, reuniting all the surviving members of the original cast alongside femme fatales, crooked collectors, and greedy gangsters for one more thrilling, deadly chase through the streets, wharves, morgues, bars, and back alleys of 1920s San Francisco – and finally answers the question, Whatever became of the Maltese falcon…?

Pre-orders are available now.

“Havok” (2025) written & directed by Gareth Evans, starring Tom Hardy, Jessie Mei Li, Timothy Olyphant and Forrest Whitaker / Z-View

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Havok (2025)

Director:  Gareth Evans

Screenplay: Gareth Evans

Stars: Tom Hardy, Jessie Mei Li, Justin Cornwell, Quelin Sepulveda, Serhat Metin, Gordon Alexander, Forest Whitaker, Michelle Waterson, Jill Winternitz and Timothy Olyphant.

Tagline: No law. Only disorder.

The Plot…

Lawrence Beaumont is a politician with clout.  Beaumont also has info that he uses to blackmail Detective Walker into doing his bidding.  Beaumont’s only son, Charlie, gets caught up in a drug deal where a cartel leader’s son is killed.  Charlie is blamed and marked for death.  Beaumont tells Walker he’ll never bother him again if he brings Charlie safely home.

Now Walker is looking for Charlie.  So are members of the triad as well as every honest and crooked cop in town.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

 I absolutely loved everything about Havok.  It has a great story and direction.  Kudos to writer/director Gareth Evans.  It is extremely well cast.  Standouts include: Tom Hardy, Jessie Mei Li, Timothy Olyphant, Forest Whittaker, Yann Yann Yeo and Michelle Waterson.  The violence and action are over-the-top without being excessively gory.

I know I will revisit Havok in the future since I’ve already watched it twice!

Havok (2025) rates 5 of 5 stars

“Stand Your Ground” starring Daniel Stisen, Peter Stormare and Eric Roberts – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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https://craigzablo.com/?p=38805

Stand Your Ground is what I affectionately call a “drive-in” movie.  Check out the poster and trailer.  Directed by Fansu Njie, Stand Your Ground stars Daniel Stisen, Peter Stormare and Eric Roberts.

Deal me in.

Former Special Forces operative, Jack Johnson, seeks vengeance after his wife’s murder, igniting a brutal war against a local crime lord’s family.

“The Narrow Margin” (1952) starring Charles McGraw and Marie Windsor / Z-View

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The Narrow Margin (1952)

Director:  Richard Fleischer

Screenplay: Earl Felton, story by Martin Goldsmith, Jack Leonard

Stars: Charles McGraw, Marie Windsor, Jacqueline White, Queenie Leonard, David Clarke, Don Beddoe, Paul Maxey, Peter Brocco, George Chandler  and Harry Harvey.

Tagline: ‘THAT BULLET’S MEANT FOR ME!” – Suspense every speeding second aboard a stream-lined limited…as syndicate killers seek to find and silence mystery woman headed for the Grand Jury!

The Plot…

Detective Sergeant Walter Brown (McGraw) and his partner, Sergeant Gus Forbes (Beddoe) are tasked to safely bring Mrs. Frankie Neall (Windsor) from Chicago to LA.  Mrs. Neall is a big time mobster’s wife.  She’s turning state’s evidence that will bring down the mob. So she’s been marked for death.

The plan is to get Mrs. Neall on a train that is going straight from Chicago to LA.  Problem is, more than one mob hitman will be on the train as well.

All aboard!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

 The Narrow Margin was nominated for one Academy Award for Best Writing, Motion Picture Story – Martin Goldsmith, Jack Leonard

Much of The Narrow Margin was made using a handheld camera.  It was one of the first movies to be filmed this way.

Howard Hughes, who owned RKO (the studio that made the movie), liked The Narrow Margin so much, he wanted to not release it and immediately remake it with Robert Mitchum and Jane Russell.  Hughes thought with the new cast and a few script changes the remake could be a major hit.  The Narrow Margin‘s release was held up for two years until Howard Hughes decided to get out of the movie business and sold his interest in RKO.

The Narrow Margin has a great plot twist that most folks probably won’t see coming.

The Narrow Margin (1952) rates 4 of 5 stars

“Matlock”: Season 1 (2025) starring Kathy Bates / Z-View

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Matlock: Season 1 (2025)

Developed by Jennie Snyder Urman, based on Matlock by Dean Hargrove

Directors: Kat Coiro (Eps.1-2, 4, 6, 12, 14, 16, 18-19); Brad Silberling (Ep. 3); Marie Jamora (Ep. 5); Tessa Blake (Ep.7); Yangzom Brauen (Ep. 8); Daniel Willis (Ep. 9); Jennifer Lynch (Ep. 10); Hannah Michielsen (Ep. 11); Jude Weng (Ep. 13); Gina Lamar (Ep. 15); Hanelle Culpepper (Ep. 17)

Teleplay: Jennie Snyder Urman (Eps. 1-2); Nicki Renna (Ep. 3, 19); Jeffrey Lieber (Ep. 4, 14); Michelle Leibel (Ep. 5); Sara Rose Feinberg (Ep. 6, 11); Hennah Sekander (Ep. 7); Sheridan Watson (Ep. 8); John Lowe (Ep. 9); Lizzie Perrin & Nicki Renna (Ep. 10); David Aguilar & Hennah Sekander (Ep. 12); Michelle Leibel & Sheridan Watson (Ep. 13); Nicki Renna & Michelle Leibel (Ep. 15, 18); Jeffrey Lieber & Tommy Cook from a story by Tommy Cook (Ep. 16); Sarah Gertrude Shapiro (Ep. 17)

Starring: Kathy Bates, Skye P. Marshall, Jason Ritter, David Del Rio, Leah Lewis, Eme Ikwuakor, Aaron Harris, Sam Anderson, Beau Bridges, Patricia Belcher, Yael Grobglas, Piper Curda and Andrea Londo.

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Retired lawyer, Madeline Kingston learns that someone in the prestigious law firm of Jacobson Moore hid evidence that would have saved her daughter’s life (as well as many thousands of others).  Since the anonymous whistleblower didn’t name names, Madeline decides to take on a new identity as Madeline “Matty” Matlock.

Using her wiles, Matty gets a job at Jacobson Moore.  They believe she is a retired attorney forced to go back to work to raise her grandson.  Truth is, Matty is wealthy, and married.  She and her husband are raising her grandson.  Matty is an excellent lawyer and quickly proves valuable to the firm. Each case provides opportunities to learn the identity of the person who hid the valuable evidence.  As she makes friendships, she sometimes struggles with the lies and deception required to keep her identity secret.  As she gets closer to the truth, her boss begins to suspect something isn’t right with Matty.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I never watched a single episode of the original Matlock, but decided to give this version a try.  I’m glad I did.

I was concerned how they would have Matty’s lies and deceptions play out.  Kudos to the writers for the way it was handled.

Kathy Bates is such a talented actress.  Skye P. Marshall more than holds her own.

Matlock: Season 1 (2025) earns 4 stars.  Bring on Season 2.