Category: Movies

“Mother’s Day” (2023) directed by Mateusz Rakowicz, starring Agnieszka Grochowska / Z-View

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Mother’s Day (2023)

Director: Mateusz Rakowicz

Screenplay by: Lukasz M. Maciejewski, Mateusz Rakowicz

Starring: Agnieszka Grochowska, Szymon Wróblewski.

Tagline:

The Story:

Nina (Grochowska), is a NATO Special Operations agent. Years ago she gave up her baby so he could be raised by loving parents in a safe environment.  Although Nina checks in on him regularly (from afar), her son knows nothing about her.  That will change when he is kidnapped by thugs looking to get back at Nina.  Now all bets are off.  Nina will use all her skills to rescue her son.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)

Mother’s Day exceeded every expectation I had for it.  Everything about Mother’s Day is what action movie fans love.  Mateusz Rakowicz knows how to direct action and keep the quieter scenes interesting.  Co-writers Lukasz M. Maciejewski and (director) Mateusz Rakowicz have created a story full of outrageous characters involved in over the top battles. Thankfully, Agnieszka Grochowska who plays Nina, is more than up to the task.  I hope to see more of her and director Mateusz Rakowicz in the future.

The Death Kiss (1932) starring Bela Lugosi, David Manners, Edward Van Sloan, Adrienne Ames & Vince Barnett / Z-View

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The Death Kiss (1932)

Director: Edwin L. Marin

Screenplay by: Gordon Kahn, Barry Barringer based on THE DEATH KISS by Madelon St. Dennis

Starring: Bela Lugosi, David Manners, John Wray, Adrienne Ames, Vince Barnett and Edward Van Sloan.

Tagline: IT’S FULL OF THRILLS!  IT’S FULL OF FUN!  IT’S FULL OF MYSTERY!  IT’S FULL OF BIG NAMES!

The Story:

When a movie’s leading man is killed on stage during the filming of a scene, in full view of everyone, the only question is: Who did it?  Evidence seems to point to one person, then another.  Finally it looks like the murder was committed by the leading lady.  Franklyn Drew (Manning) believes she was set up.  Drew begins to follow clues that will lead him to the true killer and maybe get him killed as well.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)

Three stars (Bela Lugosi, David Manners and Edward Van Sloan) of Dracula, made the year before, return to star in The Death Kiss.

The film’s copyright wasn’t renewed, so the film fell into the public domain.  Beware of poor copies!

David Manners as Franklyn Drew is charming.  Vince Barnett as Movie Studio Police Officer Gulliver is a hoot.  They make the perfect duo as together they investigate the murder.  Barnett in a way is Barney Fife to Manners Andy Griffith.  I would have loved to have seen them in a series of murder comedies.

Although Bela Lugosi gets top billing, it is actually David Manners who gets the most screen time.  He’s never been better.

The gunfight at the end of the movie is hand-tinted.  This produces a cool effect for gunshots and flashlights.

“Sorry, Wrong Number” (1948) starring Barbara Stanwyck & Burt Lancaster / Z-View

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Sorry, Wrong Number (1948)

Director: Anatole Litvak

Screenplay by: Lucille Fletcher based on Sorry, Wrong Number by Lucille Fletcher

Starring: Barbara Stanwyck, Burt Lancaster, Ann Richards, Wendell Corey, Ed Begley, Leif Erickson, Jimmy Hunt and William Conrad.

Tagline: The prize-winning radio suspense drama that thrilled 40,000,000 people … now electrifies the screen!

The Story:

Leona Stevenson (Stanwyck) is invalid confined to her bed.  While making a phone call, the lines are crossed and she hears two men discussing a murder that will happen in the next few hours.  Leona frantically contacts the police.  They say there’s nothing they can do with the information provided.  Leona then contacts the telephone company.  They don’t have the ability to figure out where the call originated.  As the minutes tick by, Leona gets more worried that someone is going to be killed.  Soon Leona will realize that she is the intended victim!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)

Barbara Stanwyck was nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role at the 1949 Academy Awards.

It’s interesting that Stanwyck plays an unlikable character and we’re rooting for Lancaster, who plays her husband.  Slowly we learn, he’s not as nice a guy as we thought, but we understand his motives.

Sorry, Wrong Number contains one of the best ending scenes in movies.

“Dracula” (1979) starring Frank Langella, Laurence Olivier, Donald Pleasence & Kate Nelligan / Z-View

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Dracula (1979)

Director: John Badham

Screenplay by: W. D. Richter based on DRACULA by Bram Stoker and Dracula (1924 play) by Hamilton Deane
and John L. Balderston

Starring: Frank Langella, Laurence Olivier, Donald Pleasence, Kate Nelligan and Trevor Eve.

Tagline: Throughout history, he has filled the hearts of men with terror, and the hearts of women with desire.

The Story:

The ship, the Demeter, is found floating just off shore.  All of the crew have been murdered.  Count Dracula (Langella) is the only passenger to survive.  He’s unable to explain what happened.

Dr. Jack Seward (Pleasence) hosts a dinner party to welcome the charming new arrival to their community.  Dracula tells them that he has come to England to partake of all that life offers.  Lucy Seward (Nelligan) finds herself attracted to Dracula, despite being engaged to Jonathan Harker (Eve) who is there with her.  What nobody knows is that Dracula is a vampire with plans to make Lucy his bride.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)

I saw Dracula when it was first released in 1979.  I’ve rewatched it a few times since.  I liked it best on the initial viewing.  Since then I’ve found this version’s focus on making Dracula more of a lover weakens the character.

I also find the supporting characters in this version less interesting.  Reinfeld should be pathetic and sometimes scary.  This version’s Renfield is just gross.  The relationship between Harker and Lucy doesn’t have chemistry.  When she shows an interest in Dracula, Harker doesn’t look more than a little peeved.  The audience doesn’t have a lot of, pardon the expression, “stake” in what happens between them.  Finally, Dracula should be menacing.  He should be frightening. When he enters a room, men should get a feeling that a apex predator is among them. Here he looks like he would be more at home in a disco than a castle.

In the play Dracula, the two main females’ names are inverted. Mina becomes Lucy and Lucy, Mina.  Director John Badham also inverted the names.  His rationale?  He “felt like Mina was a dopey name and that Lucy was kind of a nice name.”

Frank Langella is quoted as saying that Sir Laurence Olivier only took the part because he needed the money.  It is also reported that Olivier would only appear in the film if his character was killed.  That way he wouldn’t be brought back for a sequel. Donald Pleasence said in an interview: “We had a really good time but it was an awful film…Larry (Olivier) and I did it for a laugh.”  Sometimes it is hard to love a film that the actors hold in such low regard.

“That’s the Spirit” (1933) starring Noble Sissle, Cora La Redd, F.E. Miller & Mantan Moreland / Z-View

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That’s the Spirit (1933)

Director: Roy Mack

Screenplay by:  Unknown

Starring: Noble Sissle, Mantan Moreland, F. E. Miller, Buster Bailey, Cora La Redd

Tagline:  None.

The Story:

F.E. Miller and Mantan Moreland play two night watchmen assigned to a pawn shop rumored to be haunted.  The rumors are true. As Miller and Moreland look on, small figures come alive and perform.  Ghosts make appearances.  Miller and Moreland are supposed to protect the pawn shop… but who will protect them?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)

That’s the Spirit is a short featuring an all black cast.  It is thought to be Mantan Moreland’s first film appearance. That alone makes it worth a watch.  That’s the Spirit  also features some of the finest musical / dance performers of the day, No wonder one fan said it was “one of the greatest all-black jazz shorts ever made.”

“Bye Bye Barry” – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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Barry Sanders is one of the greatest running backs in NFL history.  Some folks even place him above Jim Brown and Gayle Sayers.  Although a Chicago Bears fan my whole life, I loved watching the Detroit Lions when Barry Sanders played.

Deal me in.

Bye Bye Barry is the long-awaited, feature-length documentary that reveals, in intimate detail, the unprecedented journey of Detroit Lions running back, Barry Sanders. One of the giants of American Football, Sanders displayed a style and flair that has never been replicated. But at the peak of his game, Sanders did the unthinkable. At age 31, he walked away from the game, never to return. Twenty-four years after the decision to retire from the NFL, Bye Bye Barry tackles one of the greatest mysteries in sports history: Why did he retire when he did?

“Around the World” (1943) starring Kay Kyser, Mischa Auer & Joan Davis / Z-View

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Around the World (1943)

Director:  Allan Dwan

Screenplay by:  Ralph Spence

Starring: Kay Kyser, Mischa Auer, Joan Davis, Wally Brown, Alan Carney, M.A. Bogue,  Georgia Carroll, Chester Conklin, Barbara Hale and Marcy McGuire.

Tagline: The musical that’s going places – and momma does she move!

The Story:

World War II is underway.  Kay Kyser takes his band on a tour of military bases around the world to entertain our troops with song, comedy and pretty girls.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)

Kay Kyser and his band were popular on radio, feature films and television.  Kyser combined real musical talent with comedy and wasn’t afraid to let members of his troupe shine.  Around the World is filled with songs interspersed with one liners, sight gags, double talk and musical silliness.  Oh, and there’s a story that runs through the different stops.  It has a surprisingly sad, yet inspirational ending.

“Top Secret!” (1984) directed by Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, Jerry Zucker, starring Val Kilmer / Z-View

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Top Secret! (1984)

Director:  Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, Jerry Zucker

Screenplay by:  Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, Jerry Zucker, Martyn Burke

Starring: Val Kilmer, Lucy Gutteridge, Omar Sharif, Jeremy Kemp, Warren Clarke, Ian McNeice,  Michael Gough and Peter Cushing.

Tagline: Shhh!

The Story:

While on tour in East Germany (a very Nazi-like place), rock-and-roll superstar, Nick Rivers (Kilmer) falls in love and is drawn into international intrigue.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)

I put off seeing Top Secret! for years decades because of less than stellar reviews.  Recently I saw a clip of Val Kilmer, Lucy Gutteridge and Peter Cushing in the Swedish bookstore scene.  The scene was staged so that it could run backwards in the movie.  The end result is English dialogue playing backwards for Swedish and the actors pulling off very interesting effects. Check out the scene and see what I mean.  I thought that was extremely clever, so I decided to give the movie a chance.

There are sight-gags galore.  I was surprised/amused by the abuse that Omar Sharif took.  The cow-disguise and the underwater fight scenes were worth the price of admission.  If I was to pick any nits, I’d say take out a song or two and add more silliness.  Still, if you’re a fan of Airplane-type humor, then you’d probably enjoy Top Secret!.

“Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” – The Trailer is Here!

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Deal me in!

Director Wes Ball breathes new life into the global, epic, franchise set several generations in the future following Caesar’s reign, in which apes are the dominant species living harmoniously and humans have been reduced to living in the shadows. As a new tyrannical ape leader builds his empire, one young ape undertakes a harrowing journey that will cause him to question all that he has known about the past and to make choices that will define a future for apes and humans alike.

“Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” is directed by Wes Ball (the “Maze Runner” trilogy) and stars Owen Teague (“IT”), Freya Allan (“The Witcher”), Kevin Durand (Locke & Key”), Peter Macon (“Shameless”), and William H. Macy (“Fargo”). The screenplay is by Josh Friedman (“War of the Worlds”) and Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver (“Avatar: The Way of Water”) and Patrick Aison (“Prey”), based on characters created by Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver, and the producers are Wes Ball, Joe Hartwick, Jr. (“The Maze Runner”), Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver, Jason Reed (“Mulan”), with Peter Chernin (the “Planet of the Apes” trilogy) and Jenno Topping (“Ford v. Ferrari”) serving as executive producers.