Previews and Reviews that are Z's Views
Dig starring Thomas Jane and Emile Hirsch. Yeah, deal me in.
The house of a widowed father and his daughter who suffers from major hearing loss is up for demolition. After arriving at the construction site they are soon taken hostage by a dangerous couple who will stop at nothing to retrieve what lies beneath the property.
CAST: Thomas Jane, Emile Hirsch, Harlow Jane, Liana Liberato
DIRECTOR: K. Asher Levin
JFK Revisited: Through the Looking Glass (2021)
Director: Ibrahim Hamdan, Oliver Stone
Starring: John F. Kennedy, Walter Cronkite, Lyndon B. Johnson, Jacqueline Kennedy, Lee Harvey Oswald, Jack Ruby, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Gerald Ford, Oliver Stone, Whoopi Goldberg (narration) and Donald Sutherland (narration)
Tagline: None
The Overview: Beware of spoilers…
Ibrahim Hamdan and Oliver Stone look at documents and findings declassified by the President John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992 that bring into question the finding that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone in the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. If you’re at all interested in the conspiracy theories behind the assassination of President Kennedy, then JFK Revisited is worth a watch!
JFK Revisited: Through the Looking Glass earns 4 of 5 stars.
Ida Red (2021)
Director: John Swab
Screenplay by: John Swab
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Frank Grillo, Melissa Leo, Sofia Hublitz, William Forsythe, Deborah Ann Woll, George Carroll, Mark Boone Junior and Nicholas Cirillo
Tagline: Crime runs in the family
The Overview: Beware of spoilers…
Ida “Red” Walker (Leo) is the head of her family since her husband was killed in the robbery that put her behind bars. Red’s two grown sons, Wyatt (Harnett) and Dallas (Grillo) continue to commit crimes under mom’s direction.
When Red learns that she has terminal cancer she makes it her (and her sons’) goal to get her out. She has a two-pronged plan: 1) Pay off the head of the parole board and 2) commit a dangerous heist that will get them enough money to get the family out of the law’s reach. Wyatt and Dallas agree to the plan despite the fact that they’re under the watchful eye of FBI Special Agent Lawrence Twilley (Forsythe) and a local cop who has a connection to the family!
Ida Red is a well written, well directed low budget crime film. It boasts an excellent cast. Frank Grillo steals every scene (especially memorable is his dance that will bring back memories of Michael Madsen in Reservoir Dogs). Sofia Hublitz has a subplot that shows the pull of being in a crime family (and a nice plot twist to boot). It’s nice seeing William Forsythe back in action and I always enjoy it when Mark Boone Junior shows up.
Ida Red earns 4 of 5 stars.
I like the trailer for One Way starring Travis Fimmel, Kevin Bacon, Drea de Matteo and Colson Baker. Deal me in.
FREDDY, a petty criminal , is on the run with a bag full of cash and coke. He’s way over his head and hurt bad. With a bullet in his guts he’s running out of time. FAST.
The Gray Man (2022)
Director: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
Screenplay by: Joe Russo, Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeely
Starring: Ryan Gosling, Chris Evans, Ana de Armas, Billy Bob Thornton and Alfre Woodard
Tagline: None
The Overview: Beware of spoilers…
A man known as Six (Gosling) is a CIA assassin. When a mission goes sideways, Six gains information about corruption within the CIA. A team led by Lloyd Hansen (Evans), a sociopathic mercenary is then sent to kill Six.
The Gray Man is a fast paced action thriller that is fun while you’re watching it, but doesn’t have much substance to stick with you later. Chris Evans steals the show as the crazy ex-CIA hitman. It’s always good to see Billy Bob Thornton and Alfre Woodard.
The Gray Man earns 3 of 5 stars.
Death Pursuit has the look of an old-school action film and I’m always ready for that!
Death Pursuit is a full-throttle action thriller boasting jaw-dropping stunts and featuring action superstar Vinnie Jones.
A Thief (James Clayton) who only looks out for number one, finally pulls off his long-gestating heist: the robbery of psychotic crime lord, Temple (Vinnie Jones). The plan goes off without a hitch until he discovers a stowaway in his getaway car – Temple’s wife, Mia along with Temple’s elite assassin, the deadly and mysterious man known simply as The Frenchman, hot on their heels. The Thief is torn between disappearing with the money or taking a risky detour to help Mia escape her husband’s abusive grasp. But with Temple, The Frenchman, and their deadly convoy of goons in pursuit, they quickly discover the only way to get out alive is to drive out.
Killer Joe (2011)
Director: William Friedkin
Screenplay by: Tracy Letts (based on his play of the same name)
Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Emile Hirsch, Juno Temple, Thomas Haden Church, Gina Gershon and Marc Macaulay
Tagline: A totally twisted deep-fried Texas redneck trailer park murder story.
The Overview: Beware of spoilers…
Chris Smith (Hirsch) is debt to Digger Soames (Macaulay) to the tune of $6 grand. If Chris doesn’t raise the cash soon, he’s a dead man. Then Chris gets the idea to have his mother killed for her life insurance. Chris talks to his dad, Angel (Church), who quickly comes on board. He has no love for is ex-wife, but plenty of love for the idea of quick cash. Likewise, Angel’s wife (Gershon) is in. The tough sell is going to be Dottie (Temple), Chris’ sister. They’re right, it takes about a minute for Dottie to like the idea.
Chris and Angel know of a hitman called Killer Joe (McConaughey). Killer Joe agrees to the hit, for $25,000 paid up front. When Chris and Angel can’t come up with the money, Killer Joe agrees to keep Dottie as a retainer. As the time for the hit gets closer, Joe’s relationship with Dottie takes a turn. Chris begins to have doubts about the plan, but it’s too late… too late for a lot of folks.
Killer Joe is a surprisingly dark, violent, funny (at times) tale of murder for hire. It is well written, well cast and well directed. Thomas Haden Church plays the stupidest man in one of the stupidest families I’ve ever seen. I like the twist in regard to who started the idea of the hitman murder. With that said, I’m rating Killer Joe just 2 of 5 stars. There’s a scene involving Angel’s wife, a fried chicken leg and Killer Joe that goes way over the line. Killer Joe was released with an NC-17 rating for “graphic disturbing content involving violence and sexuality, and a scene of brutality.” This is a movie that divides audiences. I can see why people would really like it, and also why people would be turned off to it. That’s not a bad thing, just be aware that your mileage may vary.
Killer Joe rates 2 of 5 stars.
The Flying Ace (1926)
Director: Richard E. Norman
Screenplay by: Richard E. Norman
Starring: Laurence Criner, Kathryn Boyd, Boise De Legge, Harold Platts, Lions Daniels, George Colvin, Sam Jordan, R.L. Brown and Steve Reynolds
Tagline: SIX SMASHING REELS OF ACTION!
The Overview: Beware of spoilers…
When a $25,000 railroad payroll is stolen under mysterious circumstances, Captain Billy Stokes (Criner), a World War I flying ace who has returned to his job as a railroad detective, is assigned to solve the mystery. Captain Stokes, with the able assistance of his one-legged partner, Peg (Reynolds) are up to the task.
The Flying Ace features an all African-American cast. I love The Flying Ace poster above. The movie has humor, thrills, mystery with a subtle love story subplot. If you enjoy silent movies, you should give The Flying Ace a go. It earns a 4 of 5 star rating!
Dark Winds Season 1 (2022)
Director: Chris Eyre (Eps 1, 2, 5, 6), Sanford Bookstaver (Eps 3, 4)
Teleplay by: Graham Roland (Ep 1), Anthony Florez (Ep 2), Maya Rose Dittloff & Razelle Benally (Ep 3), Billy Luther (Ep 4), Erica Tremblay (Ep 5), Maya Rose Dittloff (Ep 6) // Based on the Leaphorn & Chee novels by Tony Hillerman
Starring: Zahn McClarnon, Kiowa Gordon, Jessica Matten, Deanna Allison, Noah Emmerich, Eugene Brave Rock and Rainn Wilson
Tagline: None
The Overview: Beware of spoilers…
Sheriff Joe Leaphorn (McClarnon) and his Deputy, Bernadette Manuelito (Matten) are the law for the whole Navajo reservation. When bank robbers make their escape in a helicopter are last seen flying over the reservation, FBI Agent Whitover (Emmerich) is sent in. Leaphorn and Whitover don’t like each other, but have worked together in the past to resolve cases.
A new Deputy, Jim Chee (Gordon) joins the team. Chee is a college educated officer who left the reservation to better himself. Leaphorn is unaware that Chee is actually an FBI agent sent undercover by Agent Whitover to keep him informed of the investigation. As Leaphorn, Manuelito and Chee follow the clues, it appears that members of the Buffalo Society, a group of Navajo radicals may be involved in the bank robbery. And Chee isn’t the only person who isn’t what he/she seams…
Dark Winds provides a good mystery in a setting that we don’t see too often. There is a feeling of respect and authenticity to Navajos due to the writers all being Native American. I was happy to see that Dark Winds was renewed for Season 2. Dark Winds Season 1 rates 4 of 5 stars.
Trouble is What I Do by Walter Mosley
Hardcover: 176 pages
Publisher Mulholland Books; 1st edition (February 25, 2020)
First sentence…
“Mr. McGill?” Mardi Bitterman said over the intercom that connects her desk at the front of our office complex to mine at the far end.
The Overview: Beware of Spoilers…
Leonid McGill is a legitimate tough guy. He’s a former boxer, a full time PI and sometime criminal. Often his cases are dangerous and involve people you’d cross the street to avoid. This time the case sounds simple,. Phillip “Catfish” Worry, a 92-year-old Mississippi bluesman wants McGill to deliver a letter to his granddaughter before her upcoming wedding. What complicates the situation is Catfish’s granddaughter and her father are unaware that Catfish is her grandfather. She is from a wealthy white family that runs is social circles that trace their linage back to the Mayflower.
What starts out as a simple case becomes anything but. McGill can handle himself. Few men give McGill pause. Stone cold killers, Hush and Eckles, are two who do. If they want you dead, you better have your will written. Still McGill presses on. McGill’s simple case turns into one he may not survive…
I love the Leonid McGill series and Trouble is What I Do rates 5 of 5 stars. 
Trouble is What I Do Hardback
Trouble is What I Do Paperback
Trouble is What I Do Kindle
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Writer, Tom King and artist, Phil Hester are going to team to bring us Gotham City: Year One from DC Comics. The series takes place decades before Bruce Wayne became Batman. It will follow an investigator named Slam Bradley who is looking for a missing child with ties to the Wayne family.
Phil Hester was quoted as saying…
“Night falls quickly in Gotham City. The shadows cut across guilty and innocent alike. I feel lucky to be the artist to show you just how this city got so dark in the first place…Tom has crafted a story that will echo across Batman lore past and present,..”
For more information and preview art https://www.cbr.com/dc-explores-gotham-city-origin-story-new-series/check out CBR.com’s DC Explores Gotham City’s Origin Story in a New Series.
I like the poster and trailer for Breaking. Deal me in.
When Marine Veteran Brian Brown-Easley is denied support from Veterans Affairs, financially desperate and running out of options, he takes a bank and several of its employees’ hostage, setting the stage for a tense confrontation with the police. Based on the true story.
D.B. Cooper: Where Are You? (2022)
Director: Marina Zenovich
Screenplay by: None
Starring: Tom Colbert
Tagline: None
The Overview: Beware of spoilers…
On November 24, 1971, a man the press mistakenly labeled D.B. Cooper (he actually bought the ticket using the name Dan Cooper) hijacked a plane. He claimed to have a bomb, demanded $200,000.00 and four parachutes. The plane landed. The cash and parachutes were brought on board. Everyone except the pilot and a few other crew members were allowed to leave. The plane was refueled and took off. Somewhere in flight, during a rainstorm at night, the hijacker (with the cash) parachuted from the plane. He was never caught.
D.B. Cooper: Where Are You? is more about Tom Colbert (and folks like him) who are obsessed with finding D.B. Cooper than the actual case. There have been thousands of leads called in to the F.B.I. and despite the resources available to them no one was ever arrested. What’s interesting is the number of amateur sleuths who believe that they know who D.B. Cooper was/is. There are enough of these folks that there is an annual D.B. Cooper convention where “fans” show up to hear the latest theories, buy the newest books, t-shirts and more.
If you’re looking to a definite answer as to who D.B. Cooper is/was, this is not the documentary for you. It’s amazing how many viable suspects were interviewed and thought to potentially be D.B., yet no one was ever charged. I also enjoyed the look at the folks who have made the D.B. Cooper case a big part of their lives. D.B. Cooper: Where Are You? earns 4 of 5 stars.
The Postman Always Rings Twice (1981)
Director: Bob Rafelson
Screenplay by: David Mamet based on the James M. Cain novel The Postman Always Rings Twice
Starring: Jack Nicholson, Jessica Lange, John Colicos, Michael Lerner, John P. Ryan and Anjelica Huston
Tagline: In the heat of passion two things can happen. The second is murder.
The Overview: Beware of spoilers…
Frank Chambers (Nicholson) is a drifter who plans to scam a meal from a roadside diner and move on. When the diner’s owner, Nick Papadakis (Colicos), offers Chambers a job, he declines… then he catches a look at Papadakis’ young wife (Lange). Chambers takes the job,
Soon he and young Mrs. Papadakis are involved in a low-rent romance. As things heat up, their thoughts turn to cold-blooded murder. With Mr. Papadakis permanently out of the way, they’ll have each other and the diner to themselves. They think they’ll be on the way to easy street, but depending on how things turn out it could be the electric chair!
This film is the fourth version of James M. Cain’s The Postman Always Rings Twice. It was David Mamet’s first produced screenplay and had Jack Nicholson and Jessica Lange in the lead roles. My expectations were high. Sadly, I was disappointed. The advertisements for the film boasted of the heat between Nicholson and Lange. I didn’t feel it. Chambers and Papadakis’ wife need to be so in love (or at least in lust) that they’re willing to risk everything. I had the feeling that either of them could have moved on without a glance back. The love scenes weren’t loving or even sexy.
I’m a huge fan of the 1946 movie version starring Lana Turner and John Garfield which I thought was a 5 star film. This could have influenced my feelings toward the remake which earns 2 of 5 stars.
The poster and trailer for Paradise Highway are here. I like the looks of this one.
Academy Award® winners Juliette Binoche and Morgan Freeman lead this riveting thriller set in the trucking industry and its seamy underbelly of human trafficking. To save the life of her brother (Frank Grillo), Sally (Binoche), a truck driver, reluctantly agrees to smuggle illicit cargo: a girl named Leila (Hala Finley). As Sally and Leila begin a danger-fraught journey across state lines, a dogged FBI operative (Freeman) sets out on their trail, determined to do whatever it takes to terminate a human-trafficking operation — and bring Sally and Leila to safety.
