Category: Crime

“No One Lives” starring Luke Evans / Z-View

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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.

“Killing Them Softly” (2008) written & directed by Andrew Dominik; starring Brad Pitt, Ray Liotta, Richard Jenkins, Scoot McNairy, Ben Mendelsohn & James Gandolfini / Z-View

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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.

Best of 2024: FILMS / BOOKS / Posts

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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):

  • American Nightmare
  • Apollo 13: Survival
  • Arnold
  • Arnold & Sly: Rivals, Friends, Icons
  • Carry-On, The
  • Cross: Season 1
  • Fargo: Season 5
  • From Darkness to Light
  • Greatest Night in Pop, The
  • Interview with the Vampire: Season 2
  • Mayor of Kingstown: Season 3 (A)
  • Mr. McMahon
  • Reacher: Season 2
  • Rebel Ridge
  • Shogun
  • Stallone Family, The Season 2
  • Sugar: Season 1

Books

In 2024, I read 46 books (up 25 from last year) My favorites from this year included (in the order I read them):

  • A Seance for Wicked King Death by Coy Hall
  • Racing the Light by Robert Crais
  • Ways of the Wolfe, The by James Carlos Blake
  • There and Back by Eric Beetner
  • The Wake-Up by Robert Ferrigno
  • The Amateurs by Marcus Sakey
  • Blood Grove by Walter Mosley
  • Scarecrow Returns by Matthew Reilly
  • The Man Who Came Uptown by George Pelecanos
  • Bright Orange for the Shroud by John D. McDonald
  • Silent Joe by T. Jefferson Parker

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…

  • 10. SYFY’s 2023/2024 Twilight Zone New Year’s Eve Marathon Schedule is Up! -– Who doesn’t love the Twilight Zone?
  • 09. Top 10 Most Iconic Horror Movie Villains – After two years in the 10th spot, it moves into 9th place.
  • 08. Dracula Through the Ages – Fell from the #3 spot last year.
  • 07. Steranko’s Concept Art for “Bram Stoker’s Dracula” – New to the list!
  • 06. Philip Marlowe – Who Played Him Best? Ranking the Actors Who Played Him! – New to the list.
  • 05. “Arcadian” starring Nicholas Cage – The Poster and Trailer are Here! – New to the list.
  • 04. Louis Meyers: Evidence He was the Zodiac Killer. – Same spot as last year (and the year before.)
  • 03. Batman – “It Was a Dark and Stormy Night” by Snoopy (Charles Schulz), Len Wein & Walt Simonson! – Came in at #3 for the first time on the list.
  • 02. New Evidence Points to Gary Francis Poste as The Zodiac Killer! – Jumped to the #2 spot in for the first appearance on the list.
  • 01. Schwarzenegger in “King Lear” & Robin Williams in “Jack and the Beanstalk”. – Returned to the #1 spot. It was #2 last year.

My All-Time Most Popular Posts

  • 10. Joel Osteen in Jacksonville – held on to the 10th spot for three years in a row.
  • 09. Gadot & The Rock Strike a Pose – in the 9th spot for the last four years.
  • 08. Steve Reeves as Superman – No change.
  • 07. TOP 10 MOST ICONIC HORROR MOVIE VILLAINS! – No change.
  • 06. New Billy the Kid Photo Discovered – Moves down from 5th.
  • 05. Dracula Through the Ages – Moves up to the 5th spot.
  • 04. SYFY’s 2023/2024 TWILIGHT ZONE New Year’s Eve Marathon is Up! – No change.
  • 03. Zodiac Killer Code Cracked? – No change!
  • 02. Louis Meyers: Evidence He Was the Zodiac Killer – No change!
  • 01. Schwarzenegger in “King Lear” & Robin Williams in “Jack and the Beanstalk” – was #1 for the last two years and continues to be our most popular post of all-time.

It’s always interesting to see which topics resonate with fans and continue to be popular long after their initial post.

“Taken” (2008) starring Liam Neeson / Z-View

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Taken (2008)

Director: Pierre Morel

Screenplay:  Luc Besson, Robert Mark Kamen

Stars: Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace, Famke Janssen, Jon Gries, David Warshofsky, Holly Valance, Katie Cassidy, Xander Berkeley, Olivier Rabourdin, Arben Bajraktaraj, Radivoje Bukvic and Leland Orser.

Tagline: They took his daughter. He’ll take their lives.

The Plot…

Bryan Mills (Neeson) is a retired Green Beret, CIA operative who provides security for celebrities.  Mills is on the phone talking to his teenage daughter when she is kidnapped by sex traffickers.  One of the kidnappers takes the phone.

Mills tells him:  “I don’t know who you are. I don’t know what you want. If you are looking for ransom, I can tell you I don’t have money. But what I do have are a very particular set of skills, skills I have acquired over a very long career. Skills that make me a nightmare for people like you. If you let my daughter go now, that’ll be the end of it. I will not look for you, I will not pursue you. But if you don’t, I will look for you, I will find you, and I will kill you.”

The kidnapper responds by saying: “Good luck.”

Big mistake.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Director Pierre Morel was on a roll.  He directed District B13, followed that with Taken and then helmed From Paris With Love.

Jeff Bridges was originally set to play Bryan Mills.  When he dropped out, Liam Neeson got the role.  Neeson thought the film might go direct to video, instead it became a huge hit.  Taken spawned two sequels.  Following the success of Taken, Neeson’s career leaned into action roles.

Taken (2008) rates 5 of 5 stars.

BRIGHT ORANGE FOR THE SHROUD: A TRAVIS MCGEE NOVEL by John D. MacDonald / Z-View

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BRIGHT ORANGE FOR THE SHROUD: A TRAVIS MCGEE NOVEL by John D. MacDonald

First sentence…

Another season was ending.

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Travis McGee is shocked when Arthur Wilkinson shows up unannounced.  Arthur is near death.

A year ago Arthur was on top of the world.  He was part of the Florida beach crowd partying the nights away.  Arthur wasn’t a playboy.  Most thought him odd.  But Arthur was a nice guy with a considerable inheritance.  That made Arthur the perfect target for Wilma Ferner.  She was a looker.  Soon enough Wilma and Arthur were married and moved away.

In less than a year Wilma had drained Arthur’s bank account.  She got Arthur to invest in what turned out to be a scam. Once the money was gone so was Wilma.

McGee plans to nurse Arthur back to health.  Then he’s going to find Wilma and her scam artists… and make them pay.

Rating:

“The Kings of Tupelo: A Southern Crime Saga” (2024) / Z-View

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The Kings of Tupelo: A Southern Crime Saga (2024)

Director:  Chapman Way, Maclain Way

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Kevin Curtis had to give up his career as an Elvis impersonator when he married and started a family.  Curtis got work as a janitor at the North Mississippi Medical Center.  When Curtis went into an off-limits area he told everyone who would listen that he found a severed head there. Ultimately Curtis was fired.  Curtis claimed the hospital was involved in black market selling of illegally harvested human organs.

Curtis became obsessed with conspiracy theories about the black market for human organs.  Curtis reached out to Steve Holland, his local House of Representatives legislator.  When Holland wouldn’t help Curtis, a feud developed.  Curtis discovered that Holland owned several funeral homes.  This led to Curtis’ belief that Holland was involved in the human organs black market.

As Curtis became more obsessed with overlapping conspiracy theories his life crumbled.  Curtis’ relationship with his brother (also an Elvis impersonator) ended.  After Curtis discovered his wife was cheating on him with James Everett Dutschke, they divorced.  Dutschke was a member of mesa, a karate instructor and wanna-be politician.  Curtis and Dutschke hated each other and each kept upping the ante in their feud.

Ultimately Curtis was arrested for sending Rican in a letter to President Obama, Judge Sadie Holland, and Senator Roger Wicker.  Curtis claimed he was innocent and Dutschke set him up.  Dutschke said Curtis was unhinged.

Both Dutschke and Curtis are known liars.  This time one of them is telling the truth.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

If you can get past the all over the place opening of The Kings of Tupelo, you’re in for a tale that is hard to believe.  The over the top, Southern to the bone characters are real people that would fit nicely in a Joe Lansdale novel or The Dukes of Hazard.   I liked visiting, but wouldn’t want to live there.

The Kings of Tupelo: A Southern Crime Saga (2024) rates 3 of 5 stars.

THE MAN WHO CAME UPTOWN by George Pelecanos / Z-View

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THE MAN WHO CAME UPTOWN by George Pelecanos

First sentence…

When Antonius thought of all the things that they’d wrong the day of the robbery, wearing hoodies might have been at the top of the list.

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Michael Hudson is in prison awaiting trial.  Michael is at a cross roads.  If found guilty of robbery, his life will go in one direction.  If the jury decides he’s not guilty, another.  Problem is, he’s guilty. And they have him dead to rights.  Michael was the getaway driver in a job that went bad.

It’s sad to realize your potential too late.  Michael’s not a bad looking guy.  He’s not dumb.  Michael could make something of his life, given another chance.  Michael’s decided if he somehow gets freedom, he’s done with crime.  He’ll get a job. Any job.  Then he’ll continue to better himself.

A miracle happens.  Private investigator Phil Ornazian sends word to Michael not to worry.  Sure enough and soon enough Michael is released.  The witness identifying Michael is no longer sure it was him.  Unbelievable.  A sentence of five years in a federal pen vanished.

Michael is done with crime.  He gets a job as a dishwasher and starts planning for the future.

Then Michael is visited by Ornazian.  Time to pay the piper.  Ornazian and a retired cop moonlight by ripping off drug dealers and pimps.  It’s easy money since the folks they steal from would never go to the cops.  Ornazian needs a getaway driver for a score.  Michael isn’t interested.  Ornazian reminds Michael that he owes him.  Who knows, maybe the witness’ memory comes back.

Michael agrees to drive… one last time.

Rating:

“The Carry-On” (2024) starring Taron Egerton, Sofia Carson, Dannielle Deadwyler and Jason Batemen / Z-View

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The Carry-On (2024)

Director:  Jaume Collet-Serra

Screenplay:  T.J. Fixman

Stars: Taron Egerton, Jason Bateman, Sofia Carson, Danielle Deadwyler, Logan Marshall-Green, Dean Norris, Sinqua Walls, Curtiss Cook, Joe Williamson, Gil Perez-Abraham, Benito Martinez, Adam Stephenson and Theo Rossi.

Tagline: Every holiday season, millions travel safely by air. This Christmas will be different.

The Plot…

Christmas Eve.  Ethan Kopek (Egerton) and his girlfriend Nora (Carson) just found out they’re going to have a baby.  They plan to marry.  Nora is in management for an airline.  Ethan is a TSA agent at the same airport.  Life is good.

Ethan and Nora arrive at the airport full of travelers.  They kiss and head to their jobs.  Ethan talks to his supervisor about a promotion.  Ethan’s boss is open to the suggestion.  He moves Ethan to a new position — running a baggage-scanning lane.  Things are hectic but going well… until Ethan is given an earbud that he’s told to wear.

Ethan hears a voice telling him that him being moved to the new position is unfortunate.  Ethan has a choice, let a specific carry-on case pass through or Nora will be killed.  Ethan is shocked.  How can they know about Nora so quickly?  The voice says that Ethan and Nora are being watched.  Any attempt to contact the authorities or anyone and Nora dies.  The voice tells Ethan, “all you have to do is nothing.”

Ethan quickly learns that they are watching his every move.  When Ethan gets a message to one of his co-workers, the man is killed before he can read it.  Ethan realizes he is in way over his head.

If he doesn’t do as told, Nora dies.  If he allows the carry-on through, an airplane full of Christmas travelers will die.

The clock is ticking.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The Carry-On is an intelligent thriller that is well directed and well cast.

Kudos to writer T.J. Fixman for creating an action picture that doesn’t depend on anyone (hero or villain) doing something stupid for the film to work.  This is T.J. Fixman’s first live action script.  I look forward to his next.

Taron Egerton and Jason Bateman make great adversaries.  Kudos also to Danielle Deadwyler and Theo Rossi – they elevate every scene they’re in. It was nice seeing Dean (Breaking Bad) Norris and Benito (The Shield) Martinez is supporting roles.

The Carry-On is surprisingly good.

The Carry-On (2024) rates 5 of 5 stars.