Previews and Reviews that are Z's Views
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. I originally posted the drawing above was Marv by Ron Garney. While it is by Ron Garney, the character isn’t Marv.
It is actually Ira Rath from the MEN OF WRATH series Garney did with Jason Aaron. I should have known that since I’ve read (and enjoyed) MEN OF WRATH.
Thanks to Joey Jo-Jo Junior Shabadoo for the correction!
One False Move (1992)
Director: Carl Franklin
Screenplay: Billy Bob Thornton, Tom Epperson
Stars: Bill Paxton, Billy Bob Thornton, Cynda Williams, Michael Beach, Jim Metzler, Earl Billings, Natalie Canerday, Robert Ginnaven and Kevin Hunter.
Tagline: There was no crime in Star City, Arkansas. No murder. And no fear. Until now.
The Plot…
Ray (Thorton), his girl Fantasia (Williams) and Lane ‘Pluto’ Franklin (Beach) went on a crime spree. They committed six brutal murders in two locations in one night. Now they’ve got several thousand dollars and a big bag of cocaine. They plan to sell the cocaine for $200,000 to a buyer in another state. The three pack the car and leave LA.
Cops investigating the murder scenes figure out who the killers are and where they’re heading. LAPD detectives Dud Cole (Metzler) and his partner John McFeely (Billings) head to Star City, Arkansas. There they meet their liaison Police Chief Dale ‘Hurricane’ Dixon (Paxton). Hurricane has never had to draw his gun in six years as Chief of Police. He’s excited to be part of a “big city” task force. The LA cops see that Hurricane is in over his head.
The bodies pile up as Ray, Fantasia and Pluto make their way to star city. Hurricane’s past will come back to haunt him.
This will not end well.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
One False Move was originally made to go straight to video. It won several awards in film festivals and then was given a limited release. Word spread and it went into a wide theatrical release.
Billy Bob Thorton and Cynda Williams played lovers in the movie. They were married after filming ended. Sadly, they were divorced a couple of years later.
Carl Franklin’s direction is top notch.
Bill Paxton, Billy Bob Thornton and Cynda Williams are excellent. Michael Beach steals every scene he’s in. He’s THAT frightening as the genius level sociopathic killer.
One False Move (1992) rates 4 of 5 stars.
Blood for Dust (2023)
Director: Rod Blackhurst
Screenplay: David Ebeltoft, story by Rod Blackhurst, David Ebeltoft
Stars: Scoot McNairy, Kit Harington, Josh Lucas, Nora Zehetner, Stephen Dorff, Algin Mendez and Ethan Suplee.
Tagline: Breaking Bad Meets Fargo.
The Plot…
Cliff (McNary) is paying the price for his past bad choices. He had an affair with his boss’ wife. Cliff also convinced his boss to go in on a scheme to embezzle money from the company. When the theft came to light, Cliff’s boss took the fall. His boss then committed suicide. Cliff was fired.
Cliff got work as a traveling salesman, but then his new boss heard the rumors. Cliff was fired again. The word was out. Cliff couldn’t find a job anywhere. With bills piling up and a son with cancer, Cliff became desperate. So when Ricky (Harington), an old buddy, offered him a job running drugs and guns, Cliff took it.
Cliff is hoping for one big score and to get out clean. That ain’t happening. There’s two double crosses that will make sure of that.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
The tagline is Breaking Bad Meets Fargo. That’s a close description. I’d just add, “without the humor.”
Blood for Dust (2023) rates 3 of 5 stars.
Mine is a Long Lonesome Grave by Justin Jordan and Chris Shehan is a four issue mini-series premiering in February 2025 from Omni Press. Here’s the synopsis…
Harley Creed is a bad man. He used to be worse. A violent ex-con with a string of brutal crimes in his past, he only wanted one thing when he finally walked free from prison: to leave Briar Falls, WV, behind and disappear forever. But Harley’s hometown has a strange way of swallowing people whole — call it a consequence of the low-level folk magic that has permeated its darker corners for generations. And now that Harley has returned, pent-up vengeance for his past crimes is about to come roaring back. Somebody has put a hex on him — and Harley has seven days before he dies in twisted, screaming agony. To reverse it, Harley must find and kill his unseen enemy before their curse can reap its terrible end. But in Briar Falls, there’s no shortage of suspects — and Harley is coming for them all. If can’t have peace, at least he can have revenge.
Issue 1 will have four variant covers and retail at $4.99. Above and below are two uncolored preview pages. You can see all of the variant covers and an additional preview page with more details at Comics Beat’s Oni declares MINE IS A LONG, LONESOME GRAVE by Christopher Chiu-Tabet.
Three Days of the Condor (1975)
Director: Sydney Pollack
Screenplay: Lorenzo Semple Jr., David Rayfiel based on SIX DAYS OF THE CONDOR by James Grady
Stars: Robert Redford, Faye Dunaway, Cliff Robertson, Max von Sydow, Addison Powell, Walter McGinn, Tina Chen, Michael Kane, Jess Osuna, Patrick Gorman, Hansford Rowe, Hank Garrett, Ed Crowley, James Keane and John Houseman.
Tagline: The CIA knows him as Condor. What he knows about them has just made him an Endangered Species.
The Plot…
Joe Turner (Redford) works for the CIA… as a research analyst. He’s part of a small team. Their cover is the American Literary Historical Society in New York City. They read and analyze books and magazines from around the world. They’re looking for hidden messages, ideas for operations… anything useful. Typed reports are sent to CIA headquarters.
The job is very mundane. Usually the biggest excitement is “what’s for lunch” and whose turn is it to get it? As it happens, today Joe is up. He heads out the backdoor since it’s raining and runs over to the deli.
Joe returns with the sandwiches to find everyone in the office murdered. Joe is shocked. No one in the office was a field agent. Who would want them dead? And why?
Joe quickly leaves. He finds a phone booth and reports the hit to CIA headquarters. Joe is given instructions that will bring him in. When he shows up at the arranged location, Joe is almost gunned down.
On the run, unsure of who he can trust, Joe must figure out why he’s marked for murder. Even if he does, what chance does a research analyst have against trained killers?
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Three Days of the Condor was nominated for one Academy Award
Kudos for using Hank Garrett as an assassin. He doesn’t look like a stereotypical movie hitman. But he sure fought like one.
Three Days of the Condor (1975) rates 4 of 5 stars.
The poster and trailer for Paradise starring Sterling K. Brown, Julianne Nicholson and James Marsden is here. 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.
We have the poster and trailer for The Madness starring Colman Domingo. I’m a fan. Plus the supporting cast looks good and the trailer seals it.
Deal me in.
After a media pundit stumbles upon a dead body deep in the Poconos woods, he finds himself framed for the murder of a notorious white supremacist.
Where do you run when you’ve got a bullseye on your back?
You can’t escape The Madness.
Colman Domingo stars in the new conspiracy thriller, coming to Netflix on November 28.
Don’t Move (2024)
Director: Adam Schindler, Brian Netto
Screenplay: TJ Cimfel, David White
Stars: Kelsey Asbille, Finn Wittrock, Moray Treadwell and Daniel Francis.
Tagline: You can hide, but you can’t run.
The Plot…
Iris (Asbille) had gone to the site of her young child’s death in a remote wilderness park. One the way back to her car, Iris was kidnapped and drugged by a serial killer (Wittrock). She escaped, but the narcotic is slowly paralyzing her.
Before long she won’t be able to move at all. Her time is running out in more ways than one.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Finn Wittrock is believable as he transforms from nice guy to grieving husband to loving father to heartless serial killer.
Don’t Move (2024) rates 3 of 5 stars.
The poster and trailer for The Amateur starring Rami Malek and Laurence Fishburne is here! I was also glad to see Jon Bernthal and Holt McCallany listed in the credits.
Deal me in!
Watch the trailer for #TheAmateur starring Oscar® winner Rami Malek (“Bohemian Rhapsody”) and Academy Award® nominee Laurence Fishburne (“What’s Love Got to Do with It”). The all-new espionage thriller opens in theaters nationwide April 11, 2025.
Charlie Heller (Malek) is a brilliant, but deeply introverted decoder for the CIA working out of a basement office at headquarters in Langley whose life is turned upside down when his wife is killed in a London terrorist attack. When his supervisors refuse to take action, he takes matters into his own hands, embarking on a dangerous trek across the globe to track down those responsible, his intelligence serving as the ultimate weapon for eluding his pursuers and achieving his revenge.
The film also stars Rachel Brosnahan, Caitríona Balfe, Jon Bernthal, Michael Stuhlbarg, Holt McCallany, Julianne Nicholson, Adrian Martinez, Danny Sapani, and Laurence Fishburne.
“The Amateur” is directed by James Hawes. The screenplay is by Ken Nolan and Gary Spinelli based on the novel by Robert Littell. The film is produced by Hutch Parker, p.g.a., Dan Wilson, p.g.a., Rami Malek, Joel B. Michaels, with JJ Hook serving as executive producer.
A DANGEROUS MAN by J. L. Engel just came to my attention and has gone on to my to-be-purchased list. The novel currently has a 4.9 / 5 rating on both Amazon and Good Reads. It hardly gets better than that. Here’s the lowdown…
A DANGEROUS MAN
His crusade of retribution has freed countless trafficking victims from captivity, sweeping across the United States like a storm, and leaving a bloody path of destruction in his wake.
Who is he?
He was a father, a husband, and a former government operative who lost everything he cared for to a merciless Russian crime syndicate. And he’s arrived in Boston to bring his odyssey of vengeance to a close.
Can he be stopped?
Pursuing him is a relentless FBI agent with more at stake than enforcing the law, a hard-boiled detective suspicious of every piece of the puzzle, and a pair of cunning twin assassins who might rival his skill.
At what cost?
They’ll risk everything being drawn into the chaos of one man’s war for justice. Motives will be questioned, loyalties will be tested, and no one will come out unscathed – if at all.
Source: The Bearded Book Beast
Body Double (1984)
Director: Brian De Palma
Screenplay: Brian De Palma, Robert J. Avrech story by Brian De Palma
Stars: Craig Wasson, Melanie Griffith, Gregg Henry, Deborah Shelton, Al Israel, Douglas Warhit, Russ Marin, Lane Davies, Larry Flash Jenkins, Monte Landis, Brinke Stevens, Steven Bauer and Dennis Franz.
Tagline: You can’t believe everything you see.
The Plot…
Jack Scully (Wasson) is a struggling actor going through a rough patch. He just lost his role in a low-budget horror film. He came home to catch his girlfriend in bed with someone else. Jack needs a new place to live until things get back on track.
Things are looking up when Sam Bouchard (Henry), an actor Jack met at auditions, offers a place to stay. Sam’s rich friend needs a house-sitter. Sam shows Jack the place. It’s in an upscale neighborhood. Very modern. Plus, there’s a bonus. Every night at a specific time, a lady neighbor does a strip tease as she changes into night clothes. She’s easy to watch through the telescope focused on her window. Jack is skeptical until he sees for himself. She’s beautiful.
Jack agrees to house sit. Watching the woman across the way becomes a nightly activity. He’s becoming obsessed with her. Then one night Jack sees a scary looking hombre across the way, also watching the woman strip.
Jack wants to warn her. But how can he without making himself look like a creeper? The next night as he’s watching her, Jack sees the scary man hiding in her apartment. He races over to warn her, but is too late. Jack finds her murdered.
And that makes him the key suspect. Jack begins to suspect he was set up.
He was. But NOT to be the murderer.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Body Double is a love letter to the films of Alfred Hitchcock. Brian De Palma and Robert J. Avrech are both fans of Hitch. They screened Vertigo and Rear Window for inspiration.
Deborah Shelton’s voice was dubbed by actress Helen Shaver.
Melanie Griffith was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for this film for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture.
Body Double is a fun ride.
Body Double (1984) rates 4 of 5 stars.
THE SWITCHBLADE SVENGALI by Coy Hall is coming out this month. It’s the second Royce Pembrook thriller. The first, A SÉANCE FOR WICKED KING DEATH received my highest recommendation. That makes THE SWITCHBLADE SVENGALI an immediate purchase. Here’s the lowdown…
When the bell tolls midnight, it’ll be 1968.Royce Pembrook is living well in a new city, with new patrons, a new name, and a new trade. But he’s the same scam artist he’s been for thirty years. Since youth, Royce has made his money and found trouble in fraudulent séances that prey on the grieving widows of high society.
Now he’s expanded his con, posing as a hypnotist, a Svengali, swindling everyone in Phoenix from scions of old wealth to a UFO cult led by a heroin-addicted visionary. Life is good. Royce has the luxury he craves.
And that’s when trouble out of the past creeps into his world. Even in the domain of fake spirits, the relentless specter of murder is real, and Royce’s former life is one thing that won’t stay in the grave. When the bell tolls midnight for Royce Pembrook, will it be time to abscond? Or will he fight to keep all that he’s gained, no matter the violent cost to those around him?
What folks are saying…
“When the cornered lamb realizes he’s always been a wolf …” – M.E. Proctor, author of Love You Till Tuesday
“This is a man out of time and control. Royce’s facade is degrading and the violent man within is wrestling back control. A fascinating character study.” – Adam Hulse, author of Below Economic Thresholds
“Coy Hall’s The Switchblade Svengali captivates with a tale of long-con mediumship, bludgeonings and a UFO cult! A precise meld of elegance and blood curdle.” – Ilyn Welch, author of Bad Makes Bad
“Royce Pembrook is up to his old spook show tricks, this time at the height of the 1960s counterculture movement. But the ghosts he conjures aren’t the only things haunting these pages-his past has caught up to him too, threatening to derail everything he’s built since the harrowing events of A Séance for Wicked King Death. Vengeful women, gullible marks, and UFO cultists make this book impossible to put down. Coy Hall’s Switchblade Svengali is so good, I wouldn’t be surprised if the dead crossed from the other side just to read it.” – C.W. Blackwell, author of Hard Mountain Clay
“Very happy to report that this is a sequel that’s even better than the first book.” – Regan MacArthur, author of One Lash to Kill
Preoders are available now.
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 Marco Renna.
Grotesquerie: Season 1 (2024)
Created by: Ryan Murphy, Jon Robin Baitz, Joe Baken
Director: Max Winkler (Eps. 1-2; 5-7); Ryan Murphy (Ep. 3); Alexis Martin Woodall (Eps. 4; 9-10;); Elegance Bratton (Ep. 8)
Teleplay: Ryan Murphy & Jon Robin Baitz & Joe Baken (Eps. 1-10)
Stars: Niecy Nash, Courtney B. Vance, Nicholas Alexander Chavez, Micaela Diamond, Raven Goodwin, Lesley Manville, Joshua Bitton, Jay Alan Christianson and Brooke Smith.
Tagline: None.
The Plot…
A serial killer is murdering multiple people at a time. The killer then poses the bodies into elaborate scenes. Detective Lois Tryon (Nash) is assigned the case. Lois’ plate is already full. She’s drinking too much. Her husband remains hospitalized in a coma. Lois and her daughter’s relationship is strained and not getting better.
When the killer strikes again, Lois is introduced to Sister Megan Duval (Diamond). Sister Megan sees religious symbolism that the killer leaves behind. Her insights into the case are helpful. Lois brings Sister Megan on board.
As Lois works the case she begins to sense that something isn’t right.
And, boy, is she correct.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Grotesquerie: Season 1 starts off well enough. A brutal serial killer that murders multiple victims each time out. A detective who drinks too much and has family problems. An unconventional nun who may provide the key to the investigation. This is a great combination for a fun/creepy/scary tale. The actors are excellent. The direction is as well done.
But… (You could feel that coming, couldn’t ya?)
As the series progresses we get the feeling that something is off kilter. Then so does Detective Lois Tryon. We are both proved right. Ok, things to a turn but this can work as long as the writers stick the ending.
They don’t. The ending didn’t resonate with me. While this ending could lead into a season two (that we may or may not get), it leaves me dissatisfied. I’m glad I took the journey, but the trip was more fun than the destination.
Grotesquerie: Season 1 (2024) rates 3 of 5 stars.
POSTCARD FROM HELL by Rex Dancer
First sentence…
It was the slowest, deadest part of the night, when time itself was barely moving, and Andre Derain was wide awake – again.
The Overview: Beware of Spoilers…
Andy Derain was once a famous New York City fashion photographer. Fame is fleeting. And so was Andy. He fled to New Orleans.
Now Andy is getting by with whatever photo gigs he can get. Even if it means selling pics from time to time to a sleazy tabloid. When Andy gets called to a potential crime scene, he takes photos. Turns out the dead man is Crayfish Joe Coquin’s son. Crayfish Joe is much more dangerous than his name implies. It’s a risk, but Andy needs the money. He sells the pics to the sleaze rag.
About the same time that Andy learns the gangster is looking for him, Andy gets a postcard from Astrid Montebello. Astrid was a model Andy worked with and cared for. Astrid is in the Caymen Islands. She may be in trouble. When Andy gives her a call, there is no answer.
With Crayfish Joe and his goons closing in, Andy decides a trip to the Caymen Islands is just what the doctor ordered. He will hang with Astrid until Crayfish cools down.
Only problem is, Astrid is nowhere to be found. And Andy now has the attention of drug dealers and the F.B.I. Andy is in way over his head.
And Crayfish Joe is waiting in New Orleans if Andy survives.
Rating:
