Previews and Reviews that are Z's Views
One of my favorite noir movies is The Big Heat, directed by Fritz Lang, starring Glen Ford, Gloria Grahame, Jocelyn Brando (Marlon Brando’s sister), Lee Marvin and Carolyn Jones. This nice alt poster was created by Erik J. Kreffel. You can see more of Kreffel’s art at his website or by following his Twitter stream.
Billy Jack (1971)
Director: Tom Laughlin as T.C. Frank
Screenplay: Tom Laughlin (as Frank Christina), Delores Taylor (as Theresa Christina)
Stars: Tom Laughlin, Delores Taylor, Clark Howat, Richard Stahl, Howard Hesseman, Bert Freed and Kenneth Tobey.
Tagline: When you need him, he’s always there!
The Plot…
Jean Roberts (D. Taylor) runs Freedom School, an educational center for troubled youth outside a small southern town. Most of the town thinks that the school is full of Indians, liberal hippies and dangerous kids. Jean is in love with Billy Jack (T. Laughlin). Billy Jack is half white, half Navajo. He’s a former Green Beret, Hapkido master who struggles to keep his temper in control.
When a busload of Freedom School students go into town, they attract the attention of Bernard Posner and his big, dumb friend, Dinosaur. Posner and Dinosaur follow some of the kids into an ice cream shop. The shop owner refuses to serve the kids because they aren’t all white. When Posner is put in his place by one of the girls he was flirting with, he humiliates the kids. Dinosaur knocks the wind out of one of the boys just as Billy Jack enters the shop.
Posner yells for someone to go get his dad who is one of the town’s corrupt bigshots. Billy Jack makes sure the kids are okay… he then proceeds to teach Posner and Dinosaur a painful lesson.
This of course puts Billy Jack at odds with Posner Sr. and his corrupt cronies. This will not end well.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)
Billy Jack is a success due to Tom and Delores Laughlin’s determination. They wrote the screenplay, he directed it and supported the slow roll release that saw Billy Jack become a pop cultural phenomenon. Many of the actors in Billy Jack had never acted before. Billy Jack was made for approximately $800,000 and earned $32.5 million in the US and $98 million worldwide.
The Billy Jack character first appeared in Born Losers (1967) also starring and directed by Tom Laughlin.
Delores Taylor received a Golden Globe nomination as Most Promising New Actress.
Bong Soo Han was Tom Laughlin’s body double. Han was a Hapkido master and choregraphed the fights.
Billy Jack features so many memorable scenes and dialogue…
I love to revisit Billy Jack and Born Losers to bring back a great period of my youth (and to enjoy a couple of fun films).
Billy Jack (1971) rates 5 of 5 stars.
This may be my favorite piece of Alex Ross art ever. You can see more of Alex Ross’ art at his website or by following him on Twitter.
Mighty Joe Young (1949)
Director: Merian C. Cooper, Ernest B. Schoedsack
Screenplay: Ruth Rose from a story by Merian C. Cooper
Stars: Terry Moore, Ben Johnson, Robert Armstrong, Mr. Joseph Young, Frank McHugh, Douglas Fowley, Nestor Paiva, Regis Toomey, James Flavin, Primo Carnera, Karl ‘Killer’ Davis, William ‘Wee Willie’ Davis, Man Mountain Dean, Richard Farnsworth, Phil Olafsson, Henry Kulky, Ivan Rasputin, Sammy Stein, Irene Ryan and Sammy Menacker.
Tagline: Striking! Startling! Staggering!
The Plot…
The year is 1937. Jill Young is an eight year old living on her father’s small estate in Africa. Jill is in the front yard when two Africans pass by carrying an orphaned baby gorilla. Jill makes a trade and becomes the owner of the infant gorilla.
Twelve years pass. Max O’Hara (Armstong) has organized an African safari to capture lions for his nightclub show. Greg (Johnson) is a cowboy who leads the group capturing the beasts. They are about to leave when they spot a giant gorilla. Max and Greg try to capture the huge ape but they only end up angering it. Jill shows up and calms her now grown gorilla.
Soon enough Max convinces Jill if she comes to Hollywood with her giant ape, they will become famous with everything money can buy.
What could go wrong?
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)
Mighty Joe Young won the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects!
I first saw Mighty Joe Young when I was a child. I loved it then, I’ve rewatched it several times over the years and I still love it. How could you not? It has a misunderstood monster (Joe), lions fighting Joe, cowboys!, a test of strength between 10 strong men and Mighty Joe, a love story, and redemption.
The strong men who try Mighty Joe in tug of war include former world heavyweight boxing champion Primo Canera and nine professional wrestlers. One of them was Sam Menacker. I knew Mr. Menacker because he was the color commentator for professional wrestling in Indiana. Menacker was a former wrestler himself. I thought it was so cool to a young Slammin’ Sammy Menacker in a movie!
This was the first film to feature Ray Harryhausen’s stop-motion animation effects.
Mighty Joe Young (1949) rates 5 of 5 stars.
Krzysztof Domaradzki created this amazing alt Rocky poster. As Mickey would say, “It’s a thing of beauty.” You can see more of Domaradzki’s awesome art at his website. I’d plan to stay awhile.
Point Break (1991)
Director: Kathryn Bigelow
Screenplay: W. Peter Iliff from a story by Rick King, W. Peter Iliff
Stars: Patrick Swayze, Keanu Reeves, Gary Busey, Lori Petty, John C. McGinley, James Le Gros, John Philbin, Bojesse Christopher, Julian Reyes, Daniel Beer, Chris Pedersen, Anthony Kiedis, Lee Tergesen and Christopher Pettiet.
Tagline: 27 banks in three years. Anything to catch the perfect wave!
The Plot…
Johnny Utah (Reeves), a rookie FBI agent, is assigned to a task force assembled to bring down a gang of bank robbers dubbed “The Ex-Presidents”. They earned their nickname because each member of the crew wears the mask of, you guessed it, an ex-president. The Ex-Presidents have successfully hit 27 banks over a period of three years. They leave few clues and are in and out within 90 seconds.
The leader of the FBI task force, Pappas (Busey) believes that the Ex-Presidents may be surfers. Pappas gets clearance for Utah to go undercover. Soon Utah befriends a charismatic surfer named Bhodi (Swayze). Bhodi’s crew distrusts Utah at first, but begins to warm to him when they see he’s as much of an adrenaline-junkie as they are. As their friendship develops, Utah begins to suspect Bhodi and his crew are the Ex-Presidents. Loyalties are about to be tested…
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)
Patrick Swayze did his own skydiving and surfing for the film.
Point Break was Keanu Reeves first action movie. Kathryn Bigelow wanted Reeves for the Johnny Utah role. The studio wanted a higher profile star. Stars considered included Johnny Depp, Val Kilmer, Willem Dafoe, Charlie Sheen and Matthew Broderick.
Kathryn Bigelow’s next feature film following Point Break was Strange Days which is another excellent film!
Point Break (1991) rates 5 of 5 stars.
Berlin Express (1948)
Director: Jacques Tourneur
Screenplay: Harold Medford from a story by Curt Siodmak
Stars: Merle Oberon, Robert Ryan, Charles Korvin, Paul Lukas, Robert Coote, Reinhold Schünzel, Otto Waldis, Fritz Kortner and Tom Keene.
Tagline: BEHIND THE CURTAIN OF SILENCE… into Berlin’s forbidden zone!
The Plot…
World War II is over, Germany has been divided into four zones of occupation under the control of the United States, Britain, France and the Soviet Union. The city of Berlin, although located in the Soviet Zone, is also divided among the four governments.
On a train to Frankfurt, a bomb explodes in an assassination attempt on Dr. Bernhardt, a German working for a peaceful solution between Germany and the occupying governments. Although Bernhardt survived, his bodyguard was killed. When the train arrives at the busy railway station, Bernhardt is kidnapped. Several of the travelers including a US business man, a French woman, and a Russian soldier put aside their differences in an attempt to find Dr. Bernhardt.
Before it is over the group will face betrayal, mistaken identities, shootouts, fistfights, murders and more.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)
Berlin Express was the first Hollywood production filmed on location in post-war Berlin, The bombed out city is a somber and terrifying backdrop. The opening and closing of the film features narration that gives the move a documentary feel. This didn’t work for me.
What did work were the scenes in the cabaret, the abandoned warehouse, the fight on the high dilapidated walkway, and the identity of the true murderer. Oh, and let’s not forget the scene towards the end of the film showing Dr. Bernhardt being strangled — a very cleaver reveal. It’s also interesting to note that the Russian soldier wasn’t treated as a caricature.
Berlin Express (1948) rates 3 of 5 stars.
I hope you dig this alt Psycho poster by Laurent Carbonelle as much as I do. You can see more of Carnonelle’s art here.
Red River (1948)
Director: Howard Hawks
Screenplay: Borden Chase, Charles Schnee based on The Chisholm Trail from The Saturday Evening Post (1946) by Borden Chase
Stars: John Wayne, Montgomery Clift, Joanne Dru, Walter Brennan, Coleen Gray, Harry Carey, John Ireland, Noah Beery Jr., Paul Fix, Hank Worden and Mickey Kuhn.
Tagline: In 25 Years, Only Three! “The Covered Wagon”, “Cimarron” and now Howard Hawks’ “Red River”
The Plot…
Thomas Dunson (Wayne) wants to start a big cattle ranch in Texas. He plans is to travel there with his friend, Nadine Groot (Brennan). Once Dunson has the ranch up and running he will send for his fiancée, Fen (Gray). Although Fen wants to ride with Dunson to Texas, he tells her she should stay with the slower but safer wagon train.
That night Dunson and Groot are attacked by Indians. They fend off the attack and on one of the dead Indians Dunson finds a bracelet he had given to Fen. Dunson and Groot discover that the wagon train was wiped out. The sole survivor being a young boy named Matthew. Dunson adopts the boy and they head to Texas.
Fourteen years pass, Although the ranch has been successful, unless Dunson can sell his herd, he will lose everything. He decides on a massive cattle drive that will cover hundreds of miles through badlands. As the group makes their way things go wrong. They face stampedes, gunfights, thievery and more. With each setback, Dunson becomes more tyrannical. When Dunson threatens to kill any man that attempts to quit the drive, Matthew has had enough. If Matthew challenges Dunson’s authority, one of both may die. But enough is enough.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)
Most people don’t realize that Red River was the feature film debut of Montgomery Clift. Red River was filmed before, but released after The Search.
Red River is Howard Hawks first western!
This is the only movie to have both Harry Carey and his son in the cast. Sadly, they had no scenes together. This was Harry Carey’s final film. He died before Red River was released.
John Wayne and Montgomery Clift did not care for each other off screen. Their politics were diametrically opposed. Wayne thought Clift wasn’t manly enough. Clift that both Wayne and director Howard Hawks worked too hard at being macho. Still, the team created a classic western by putting those thoughts aside and doing the work.
Some folks nitpick that Clift wouldn’t last long in a fight with John Wayne, but they often forget Wayne’s character had been shot prior to the fight. If I were to pick a nit, I might say that the film’s resolution comes too easily. But Red River is too good a ride to complain.
Red River (1948) rates 5 of 5 stars.
Gary Shipman is a self taught artist and writer. Shipman has been nominated for Eisner, Harvey and Russ Manning awards. When I saw that Gary Shipman was regularly doing sketchcard (and other) commissions on WhatNot, I decided to try to get one. As you can see above from Shipman’s riff on Sly Stallone as Jack Carter, I succeeded. And he nailed it. Look for more Gary Shipman art here in the near future!
You can see more of Gary Shipman’s art at his webpage, his Instagram page and on his Whatnot stream.
Let Me In (2010)
Director: Matt Reeves
Screenplay: Matt Reeves based on Let the Right One In by John Ajvide Lindqvist
Stars: Kodi Smit-McPhee, Chloë Grace Moretz, Richard Jenkins, Cara Buono, Elias Koteas, Dylan Kenin, Chris Browning, Ritchie Coster and Dylan Minnette.
Tagline: Innocence dies. Abby doesn’t.
The Plot…
Owen is having a bad year. His recently divorced parents don’t have much time for him. He has no friends and is being bullied at school. Then one winter evening he meets Abby. She’s twelve, too. Abby is strange, but nice. Abby lives with her dad in an apartment across the way. Abby doesn’t go to school. Each evening Owen talks to Abby before he has to go in for the night. Although the bullying at school is getting worse, Owen and Abby are starting to like each other more than friends.
What nobody knows is Abby is a vampire.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)
Let Me In is a remake of Let the Right One In, a 2008 Swedish film directed by Tomas Alfredson with a screenplay by John Ajvide Lindqvist based on his novel LET THE RIGHT ONE IN.
Matt Reeves directed Cloverfield before taking the helm of Let Me In. He would go on to direct Dawn of the Planet of the Apes; War for the Planet of the Apes; and The Batman. I thought Cloverfield was good, Dawn and War for the Planet of the Apes, very good and The Batman, even better. Let Me In may be my preference of all of his films.
Stephen King called Let Me In his favorite film of 2010 and named it “The best American horror film in the last twenty years.”
Matt Reeves deserves much of the credit for the success of Let Me In. He creates moody scenes that he lets play out. There are special effects but they are used sparingly and effectively.
Kodi Smit-McPhee was an excellent choice to play Owen. Chloë Grace Moretz is perfect as Abby, the vampire who has been 12 for a very long time. Richard Jenkins was a surprising choice to play “father”. I loved the suspense of his scenes when he went out at night alone. Dylan Minnette made a great bully.
I put off watching Let Me In for a long time because of the kid being bullied and girl who is a vampire story made me think it’d be more for teenagers. I was wrong. I look forward to repeated viewings of Let Me In (and I plan to seek out Let the Right One In).
Let Me In (2010) rates 5 of 5 stars.
Marv from Frank Miller’s Sin City is a character I love seeing drawn by different artists. The one above was created by Richard Pace. You can see more of Pace’s art here.
Blade Trinity (2004)
Director: David S. Goyer
Screenplay: David S. Goyer based on a character created by Marv Wolfman, Gene Colan
Stars: Wesley Snipes, Kris Kristofferson, Parker Posey, Ryan Reynolds, Dominic Purcell, Jessica Biel, John Michael Higgins, Paul Levesque, Françoise Yip, Michael Anthony Rawlins, James Remar and Patton Oswalt.
Tagline: He’s fought the forces of darkness alone…until now.
The Plot…
When Blade (Snipes) is captured by the police, Hannibal King (Reynolds) and Abigail Whistler (Biel) rescue him. They then recruit Blade to join them in their efforts to wipe out all vampires. Blade learns that the Vampire Nation has reawakened Dracula (the original vampire) and they plan to use Dracula’s blood to increase the powers of all vampires, Blade joins Hannibal and Abagail in a fight to save the human race.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)
After recently watching Blade II (which I love), I decided to give Blade Trinity another viewing. It wasn’t as good as I remembered and then I had rated Blade Trinity 3 of 5 stars. I think my lower rating is due to Ryan Reynold’s snarky comments. They may have seemed fresh when I first saw Blade Trinity, but it seems that’s what Reynolds does in every role. It’s grown stale for me.
From all reports the production of Blade Trinity didn’t go well. Snipes was reportedly upset with choices Goyer was making. Snipes also felt that too much time was given to Reynolds and Biel at the cost to Blade. I agree.
Blade Trinity (2004) rates 2 of 5 stars.
Robbie Robertson, born Jaime Royal Robertson, died yesterday from prostate cancer. Mr. Robertson was 80.
Robbie Robertson began playing in singing groups that he formed right out of high school. His most famous group, The Band, served as opening act for Bob Dylan before going on to become one of the most influential groups of the era. The Band made the cover of Time magazine in 1970 due to their impact. Eric Clapton loved their music so much that he offered to join their group. His offer was politely refused. While in The Band, some of the songs Robbie Robertson wrote included “The Weight”, “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down”, and “Up on Cripple Creek”.
Robbie Robertson would go on to have a solo career. He also branched out into film as an actor, soundtrack composer and producer. Mr. Robertson shared many collaborations with Martin Scorsese including The Last Waltz (1978), Raging Bull (1980), The King of Comedy (1983), Casino (1995), The Departed (2006), The Wolf of Wall Street (2013), The Irishman (2019), and Killers of the Flower Moon (2023).
Robbie Robertson is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Canadian Music Hall of Fame along with other members of his group, The Band.
In 1980, Robbie Robertson co-wrote and co-starred in Carny with Jodie Foster, Gary Busey, Meg Foster, Kenneth McMillan, Elisha Cook Jr., Tim Thomerson, Bill McKinney, Bert Remsen and Craig Wasson. I saw Carny back in 1980 and really enjoyed it. I felt it was very underrated. Had he wanted to, Robbie Robertson could have had a career as an actor.
Robbie Robertson, along with his son Sebastian, and friends Jim Guerinot and Jared Levine co-authored Legends, Icons and Rebels: Music That Changed the World. Mr. Robertson wrote Hiawatha and the Peacemaker with illustrations by David Shannon. Mr. Robertson also wrote his autobiography Testimony.
Our thoughts and prayers go our to Robbie Robertson’s family, friends and fans.
Tony Stella shared this on his Twitter feed and I thought it was interesting. The bottom art by the great Robert McGinnis was used to promote James Bond in Dr. No. Compare it to the top art and you can see how it was censored prior to use. Bond is given shorts. The lady isn’t as well endowed and what she has is better covered. Also note the changes in her face. In the top art she seems to enjoy her, uh, job at hand much more. ; )
