Previews and Reviews that are Z's Views
I like the looks of No One Will Save You. Deal me in.
From 20th Century Studios, “No One Will Save You” is an action-packed face-off between Brynn and a host of extraterrestrial beings who threaten her future while forcing her to deal with her past.
CAST: Kaitlyn Dever
DIRECTOR: Brian Duffield
Things have been coming up Kolchak around here lately. I recently saw the above Kolchak art on Facebook. It brought back memories of the two Kolchak tv movies, The Night Stalker and The Night Strangler from when I was a kid in junior high. Great memories.
I decided to find out more about the art. Turns out it was the cover for KOLCHAK: The Night Strangler Files. The tv movie was written by Richard Matheson. Chris Mills (writer) and Amin Amat (artist) adapted it into the graphic novel. I’m not sure who the cover artist is, but I sure do like that art.
Then Svengoolie announced that he would be getting the two Kolchak movies in the near future. THAT is awesome news.
And that’s your Kolchak update for the day.
Gary Wright, the singer/songwriter best known for his hits Dreamweaver and Love is Alive, died yesterday at the age of 80. Mr. Wright had dealt with Parkinson’s and Lewy body dementia for several years.
Gary Wright was a child actor. He was just seven when appeared on the tv show Captain Video and His Video Rangers. As a child he appeared in radio and television commercials. He appeared in the Broadway production of the musical Fanny with Florence Henderson. The two also appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show to promote the play.
Gary Wright also had a love of music and began playing with local rock bands while in high school. He continued to play in bands while working on a medical degree in college. Mr. Wright decided to quite college and focus on music. He joined a band called Spooky Tooth which put out three albums.
In 1970, Gary Wright decided to quit the band and focus on a solo career. When he was invited to play piano on former Beatle, George Harrison’s first album, Mr. Wright accepted. Gary Wright would go on to play on all of George Harrison’s albums in the 1970s. Mr. Wright also played on Ringo Starr’s hits “It Don’t Come Easy” and “Back Off Boogaloo”. As Gary Wright worked on his solo career he was often requested to play with other recording stars such as Harry Nilsson, BB King and Jerry Lee Lewis.
Gary Wright hit it big in 1978 with the one-two punch of Dream Weaver and Love is Alive. Dream Weaver sold over 1 million copies, peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was certified gold. Love is Alive from the same album also hit #2 helping to drive the album to double platinum status.
In the early 1980s, Gary Wright also began making music for feature films. Some of the films featuring Gary Wright’s music include: Endangered Species; Staying Alive; Cobra; Wayne’s World; The People vs Larry Flynt; Coyote Ugly; Daddy Day Care; Toy Story 3; Safehouse and The Great Gatsby.
Gary Wright would continue to write, play, record and tour for the rest of his career.
I was surprised that Dream Weaver wasn’t a number one hit. It played all the time and everyone loved it. Dream Weaver was the song that made Gary Wright a world wide celebrity even though professional musicians knew who he was and often requested his services.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to Gary Wright’s family, friends and fans.
The Poseidon Adventure (1972)
Director: Ronald Neame
Screenplay: Stirling Silliphant, Wendell Mayes based on The Poseidon Adventure by Paul Gallico
Stars: Gene Hackman, Ernest Borgnine, Shelley Winters, Red Buttons, Carol Lynley, Roddy McDowall, Stella Stevens, Jack Albertson, Pamela Sue Martin, Eric Shea, Arthur O’Connell, Sheila Allen, Byron Webster, John Crawford, Bob Hastings and Leslie Nielsen.
Tagline: Who will survive-in one of the greatest escape adventures ever!
The Plot…
On New Year’s Eve with a full ship, the S.S. Poseidon is hit by a 90-foot tidal wave and capsizes. Now the ship is floating upside down. Dozens of survivors are in the dinning room. There is confusion on the best course of action. Some believe that everyone should make their way up to the hull. They reason rescuers will be able to cut them out where the ship’s metal is the thinnest. Another group, argues that a distress call was sent. Everyone should just stay in the dinning room. Attempting to move through the upside down damaged ship would be dangerous. Most agree that staying put is the best course of action.
Reverend Scott (Hackman), who is not your typical Reverend, leads a group up to the next level. Joining Scott are:
Just as they make it up to the next level a series of underwater explosions occur. The ship begins taking on more water and sinking. It’s too late for those below. As Scott leads his group up, the dangers mount. Not everyone will survive!
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)
The Poseidon Adventure (1972) did well at the Academy Awards:
Academy Award Wins:
Academy Award Nominations:
The Poseidon Adventure features five Academy Award winning actors – Gene Hackman, Ernest Borgnine, Shelley Winters, Jack Albertson and Red Buttons; and one Oscar nominee: Arthur O’Connell.
Shelly Winters was 51 when she played Belle, a much older character. Ms. Winters gained 35 pounds for the role. I was 14 at the time. I remembered a younger Shelly Winters in older movies playing a “hottie”. It was hard to wrap my head around seeing Ms. Winters older and heavier. Stars do age.
Reverend Scott is my favorite Gene Hackman role.
Ernest Borgnine is always great. His wife in the movie Stella Stevens made quite an impact on this 14 year old ; )
I have many great memories of seeing The Poseidon Adventure. A few of my friends and I took the city bus down town to see it. We felt like big shots.
It’s funny (ironic?) now seeing Leslie Nielsen playing it straight.
The Poseidon Adventure (1972) rates 5 of 5 stars.
THIS is how you make a GODZILLA trailer!
In postwar Japan, a new terror rises; Godzilla. Will the devastated people be able to survive… let alone fight back? Written and Directed by: Takashi Yamazaki In theatres nationwide December 1, 2023.
D.O.A. (1949)
Director: Rudolph Maté
Screenplay: Russell Rouse, Clarence Greene
Stars: Edmond O’Brien, Pamela Britton, Luther Adler, Beverly Garland, William Ching, Neville Brand, Frank Cady, Hugh O’Brian, Jerry Paris and Bill Baldwin.
Tagline: A picture as excitingly different as its title!
The Plot…
Frank Bigelow (O’Brien) learns that he was poisoned with a a “luminous toxin” that will kill him in a few days. The toxin has no antidote. Bigelow is determined to discover who and why he was marked for death, The clock is ticking.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)
What starts out as a fun weekend in San Francisco turns into one of the noirest noirs.
Sadly the copyright on D.O.A. wasn’t renewed so there are many poor copies out there. Beware!
This is Neville Brand’s first credited role. Look for future tv stars in small roles: Beverly (My Three Sons) Garland, Frank (Petticoat Junction / Green Acres) Grady and Jerry (Dick Van Dyke) Paris. Hugh O’Brien, who would go on to star in feature films and more than one tv series, has an uncredited role. Bill Baldwin, perhaps best known for his role as a fight commentator in Rocky, Rocky II and Rocky III, also has an uncredited role!
There’s a scene where Edmund O’Brien is running down a crowded city street. O’Brien bumps into pedestrians as others look around confused by the man running past them at full speed. That scene is an example of Gorilla Filming. The filmmakers made the shot without any permits or permission.
I’m a D.O.A. fan and like to revisit it every so often.
D.O.A. (1949) rates 4 of 5 stars.
65 (2023)
Directors: Scott Beck, Bryan Woods
Screenplay: Scott Beck, Bryan Woods
Stars: Adam Driver, Ariana Greenblatt, Chloe Coleman and Nika King.
Tagline: 65 million years ago prehistoric earth had a visitor.
The Plot…
Mills (Driver) accepts a job to pilot a deep space ship for three times his normal pay. He needs the money to pay for treatment for a potentially fatal illness his daughter has. When Mills’ ship is knocked off course by meteors, it crash lands on Earth 65 million years ago.
Mills and a nine year old girl, Kona (Greenblatt) are the sole survivors. The have a small shot at getting home. One of the ship’s escape pods is located 15 kilometers away. To get to it they will have to cross an unforgiving environment full of carnivorous dinosaurs, poisonous plants and bugs, quicksand, landslides and more. The Earth 65 million years ago is a dangerous place. Oh, and Mills just learned that the main meteor in the ring his ship went through is due to hit earth in 12 hours… and that meteor is a planet-killer. The clock is ticking.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)
Reviewers haven’t been kind to 65. I was pleasantly surprised that it resonated with me much more than most. It caused me to jump more than a couple of times.
Unlike many films of this nature, when the lead character is injured, he just shakes it off. In 65, Mills’ injuries appear painful and take their toll.
While 65 features a happy ending, it’s as Rocky Balboa might say, “Not all sunshine and roses.” If it had been, maybe reviewers would have enjoyed it more.
65 (2023) rates 3 of 5 stars.
Laurent Carbonelle is back with another alt poster! I love how Carbonelle paid homage to Pulp Fiction’s original poster with his unique take. You can see more of Carnonelle’s art here.
Justified: City Primeval (2023)
Written by: Dave Andron & Michael Dinner (eps. 1 – 2, 7 – 8); Eisa Davis & Chris Provenzano (eps. 3, 5); Taylor Elmore (ep. 4); Taylor Elmore & V.J. Boyd (ep. 6)
Directed by: Michael Dinner (eps. 1 -2, 8); Jon Avnet (ep. 3); Gwyneth Horder-Payton (ep. 4); Kevin Rodney Sullivan (ep. 5); Sylvain White (ep. 6); Katrelle Kindred (ep. 7)
Stars: Timothy Olyphant, Boyd Holbrook, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Vondie Curtis-Hall, Adelaide Clemens, Marin Ireland, Victor Williams, Norbert Leo Butz, Alexander Pobutsky, Terry Kinney, Regina Taylor, Yosef Kasnetzkov, Paul Calderon, Amin Joseph, Walton Goggins, Keith David, Natalie Zea, Luis Guzmán and Vivian Olyphant.
Tagline: None.
The Plot…
Raylan Givens (T. Olyphant) is a US Marshall and part time father to his 15 year old daughter, Willa (V. Olyphant). Raylan is sent to Detroit to testify in a court case. While testifying, Raylan tests Judge Alvin Guy’s patience. That evening the judge is murdered by a sociopath named Clement Mansell.. Raylan is assigned to the team tracking down the killer.
Mansell is known as The Oklahoma Wildman. He has no fear and kills without remorse. Before it is over, Raylan will find himself dealing not only with Mansell, but an attorney willing to cross the line in her efforts to become a judge, a dirty cop, and the Armenian mob.
“You want a shootin’ match? Let’s go.”
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
The Elmore Leonard novel City Primeval: High Noon in Detroit doesn’t feature Raylan Givens. It was adapted to bring back Justified. The novel’s protagonist is Homicide Detective Raymond Cruz. The Cruz character also appeared in Leonard’s Out of Sight novel. When Out of Sight was transformed into a feature film starring George Clooney and Jennifer Lopez, Paul Calderón played Detective Cruz. Calderón also appears as Cruz in Justified: City Primeval.
A hero is only as good as the villain he’s facing. Clement Mansell is a great one. Boyd Holbrook is perfect. Other standouts include:
Some actors/actresses are born to play a character. Timothy Olyphant is a perfect example. He IS US Marshall Raylan Givens. Everyone remembers the great lines and Olyphant’s delivery. I also love the quiet moments when Olyphant uses his body language, eyes and facial expressions to sell a scene.
It’s not often a series returns and is as great as the original. Justified: City Primeval is a great example that it can be done. There’s an excellent set-up for another season at the end of Justified: City Primeval. I hope it happens.
Justified: City Primeval (2023) earns 5 of 5 stars.
Nuno Sarnadas created this cool concept poster for John Wick Chapter 4. You can see more of Sarnadas’ poster art and more here.
Paradise Alley (1978)
Director: Sylvester Stallone
Screenplay: Sylvester Stallone
Stars: Sylvester Stallone, Lee Canalito, Armand Assante, Frank McRae, Anne Archer, Kevin Conway, Terry Funk, Joyce Ingalls, Joe Spinell, Aimee Eccles, Tom Waits, Frank Pesce, Ray Sharkey, Frank Stallone, Ted DiBiase, Dory Funk Jr., Don Leo Jonathan, Gene Kiniski, Dick Murdoch, Ray Stevens and Paul Mace.
Tagline: Three brothers… One had the brains, one had the muscle and one had the suit. Together they had a million dollar dream.
The Plot…
The Carboni brothers, Lenny (Assante), Cosmo (Stallone) and Victor (Canalito) are just getting by. Lenny, who returned from the war a hero with a limp, is an undertaker. Cosmo lives by his wits, always looking for a fast buck. Victor hauls ice.
After an evening in Paradise Alley where real (not scripted) wrestling matches take place, Cosmo gets an idea. Victor could become a professional wrestler with Cosmo as his manager. Lenny sees that Cosmo has a good idea, but fears that Victor could be exploited. Victor likes the idea of the brothers working together so Lenny becomes his manager and Cosmo his trainer.
Victor becomes a popular, winning wrestler. This puts him in the crosshairs of Stitch Mahone and Frankie the Thumper. Stitch is a local mobster and Thumper is a big dumb brute who happens to be an undefeated wrestler. As Cosmo begins to have concerns that Victor is being pushed to fight to often, Lenny starts working on a fight with Frankie the Thumper.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)
Sly Stallone wrote, directed, starred in and sang the title song for Paradise Alley. It was his directorial debut.
Paradise Alley was Terry Funk’s, Lee Canalito’s and Tom Waits’ feature film debut.
Frank McRae as Big Glory and Terry Funk as Frankie the Thumper own their scenes.
The final wrestling match in the Paradise Alley ring during a pouring thunderstorm is amazing.
I rate Paradise Alley higher than most folks. Keep in mind that I am a huge Sly Stallone fan. Your mileage may vary.
Paradise Alley (1978) rates 5 of 5 stars.
Desperation Road is one to keep an eye on. Great source material, starring Garret Tulsa King Hedlund and co-starring Mel Gibson. Yeah, deal me in.
In a small Mississippi town, justice and the law are two very different things. Academy Award Winner Mel Gibson (Braveheart), Garret Hedlund (TRON: Legacy), and Willa Fitzgerald (Scream: The TV Series) star in a modern noir thriller based on the acclaimed novel by Michael Farris Smith about two lost souls tortured by the mistakes of their past and bound by a secret that keeps them running.
RELEASE DATE: October 6
CAST: Mel Gibson, Garrett Hedlund, and Willa Fitzgerald
“Your friend just had the most expensive funeral in history.”
John Cordero created this cool alt minimalist Cliffhanger poster and even added the quote with his post of it. THAT is a true Stallone fan. You can see more of Cordero’s art here.
Night of the Living Dead (1968)
Director: George A. Romero
Screenplay: John Russo, George A. Romero
Stars: Duane Jones, Judith O’Dea, Karl Hardman, Marilyn Eastman, Keith Wayne, Judith Ridley, Kyra Schon, S. William Hinzman, Bill Cardille, John A. Russo, Russell Streiner and George A. Romero.
Tagline: They won’t stay dead!
The Plot…
When the dead suddenly begin reanimating with a craving for human flesh, a group of strangers find themselves together in a deserted farmhouse. As the group argues about their best moves for survival, the dead continue to gather outside! Soon the farmhouse will be overrun. The clock is ticking.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)
Night of the Living Dead, shot on a shoestring budget with most of the cast taking their first acting roles, reinvented and revitalized zombie movies. Investors in the film, many of the people who worked on the film behind the scenes and some of locals ended up taking on-screen roles as well.
Although NotLD is one of the most profitable independent films of all-time. Sadly, George Romero didn’t see much of the profits due to his little understanding of distribution deals. To make matters worse, the film was released with no copyright notice which at the time placed it in the public domain. Anyone or any company could make a sell copies of the movie with no proceeds going to George Romero or his investors. That’s why there are so many crappy versions available.
NotLD takes place on the first day of a zombie apocalypse. No one knows what is going on or the best course of action. One of the interesting aspects of NotLD is that Harry Cooper argues that everyone is safer in the basement. Cooper is the least likeable of the group and a different course of action is taken. Turns out Cooper’s idea was the best.
Night of the Living Dead (1968) rates 5 of 5 stars.
How about the Killers of the Flower Moon poster that just dropped today? I, for one, like it. Hope you do as well.
