Category: Movies

“Shoot the Piano Player” (1960) directed by François Truffaut / Z-View

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Shoot the Piano Player (1960)

Director:  François Truffaut

Screenplay: François Truffaut, Marcel Moussy; based on DOWN THERE (aka SHOOT THE PIANO PLAYER) by David Goodis

Stars: Charles Aznavour, Marie Dubois, Nicole Berger, Michèle Mercier and Albert Rémy.

Tagline: A Film for Adults

The Plot…

Charlie Koller is a piano player in a small jazz club.  Charlie  comes in each night, plays the piano and keeps to himself.  He’s a low key guy.  Léna, a waitress at the club, is starting to fall in love with Charlie.  Although Léna knows a bit about Charlie’s past, she keeps it secret.

One night when Charlie is playing, a man comes rushing in the club. The man is Charlie’s estranged brother.  He’s on the run from two thugs who aren’t far behind.  Although Charlie wants no part of his brother’s problem, he can’t stand by and do nothing.  The choice to get involved will bring forth the past Charlie has kept hidden and result in several murders.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Although based on David Goodis’ excellent novel, DOWN THERE, the screenplay makes significant changes to the protagonist.  In the movie his name is Charlie, in the novel it is Eddie. In the movie Charlie is small, shy and passive.  In the novel, Eddie is physically imposing and projects confidence.  Eddie chooses to be private for an unknown reason.  Charlie is naturally introverted.

The novel is hardboiled noir.  The film shifts between noir, comedy, romance and melodrama.

Due to budget restraints, Truffaut often filmed on the streets of Paris where they could, improvising dialogue as they went along.

While I’m a fan of Shoot the Piano Player, I like the novel even better!

Shoot the Piano Player (1960) rates 4 of 5 stars

“Crime 101” (2026) written and directed by Bart Layton, starring Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Barry Keoghan and Halle Berry / Z-View

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Crime 101 (2026)

Director:  Bart Layton

Screenplay: Bart Layton; based on Crime 101 by Don Winslow

Stars:  Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Barry Keoghan, Monica Barbaro, Corey Hawkins, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Halle Berry and Nick Nolte.

Tagline:  One Heist Connects Them All

The Plot…

Mike is a meticulous jewel thief.  He carefully plans his robberies to minimize all risks.  Mike never has to resort to violence, leaves no clues and is gone well before the police arrive.  Mike’s goal is to get enough money to walk away from this life and start a new one without looking back.

Mike has successfully pulled off a string of robberies and believes that no one has linked that one man is behind them all.

He’s wrong.

LAPD Detective Lou Lubesnick is convinced that there are about a dozen robberies that were committed by the lone thief.  All of the jobs were done with easy access to a highway.  The thief had obviously cased the job and knew the comings and going of all the employees.  And not a single job resulted in anyone being hurt.  Although Detective Lubesnick is convinced, his bosses aren’t.  But that isn’t deterring Lubesnick.

Mike’s fence, Money also helps identify potential jobs.  When Money pushes Mike to take down a jewelry store without enough time to figure out how to make it work, Mike passes.  Money gets hires a hothead named Ormon for the heist.  This puts Mike at odds with both Money and Ormon.

As Detective Lubesnick closes in, Mike sees an opportunity for a job that will either set him up with the money needed to walk away… or get him killed.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Crime 101 is based on a novella by Don Winslow.

Crime 101 checks all the boxes – excellent story and direction plus a great cast.

Crime 101 (2026) rates 5 of 5 stars

“We’re No Angels” (1955) directed by Michael Curtiz, starring Humphrey Bogart, Aldo Ray and Peter Ustinov / Z-View

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We’re No Angels (1955)

Director:  Michael Curtiz

Screenplay: Ranald MacDougall; based on La Cuisine Des Anges by Albert Husson

Stars:  Humphrey Bogart, Aldo Ray, Peter Ustinov, Joan Bennett, Basil Rathbone, Gloria Talbott and Leo G. Carroll.

Tagline:  A strangler… A swindler… A safecracker… Yet you’ll love them!

The Plot…

Joseph, a thief, along with Albert and Jules who are murderers escape from the Devil’s Island French Prison.  They make it to a small town where they plan to steal enough funds to make it aboard a ship for their final escape.

The convicts decide to go into a store, steal clothes and money and make their getaway.  Once in the store they discover that the store is failing.  The nice family running the store is on the verge of losing everything.  Against their better judgment the three convicts decide to stay at the store until nightfall.  While there the boys decide to fix the leaking roof… help with sales… cook the family a nice dinner and more.

The longer Joseph, Albert and Jules stay the less likely they are to getaway.  The clock is ticking.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

We’re No Angels is based on the French play La cuisine des anges (The Angels’ Kitchen) by Albert Husson.  Interestingly enough, there was a Broadway play, My Three Angels by Sam and Bella Spewack which was was also based on the French play.  The Spewacks sued Paramount because parts of their play were incorporated into the movie without proper permission or payment.

We’re No Angels (1955) rates 3 of 5 stars

“Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” (1941) starring Spencer Tracy, Ingrid Berman & Lana Turner / Z-View

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Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1941)

Director:  Victor Fleming

Screenplay: John Lee Mahin, Percy Heath, Samuel Hoffenstein; based on STRANGE CASE OF DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE by Robert Louis Stevenson

Stars:  Spencer Tracy, Ingrid Bergman, Lana Turner, Donald Crisp, Ian Hunter, Barton MacLane, Frederick Worlock, Lumsden Hare, Lawrence Grant and Forrester Harvey.

Tagline:  Do you have secret longings that you dare not reveal? If you do, it’s the Mr. Hyde in you – and you can find out all about him from M-G-M’s fascinating, revealing film!

The Plot…

1887.  Dr. Jekyll and Beatrix Emery are in love and wish to be married.  Beatrix’s father is not happy with the relationship.  To delay the marriage Beatrix’s dad takes her on a prolonged trip out of country.

Meanwhile Dr. Henry Jekyll continues his experiments to separate the good and evil in humans.  With Beatrix gone, Jekyll decides to ingest his serum himself.  It works by changing Dr. Jekyll’s appearance and personality.  He’s no longer a calm and kind person.  Now he’s become harsh, crude and sadistic.  Jekyll takes to calling himself Mr. Hyde when he’s under the influence of his serum.

Late one night Hyde saves Ivy Peterson from an attacker as she is walking home.  This leads to Hyde becoming infatuated with Ivy… in an unhealthy relationship.  As time passes Jekyll spends more and more time as Hyde.  Hyde’s behavior becomes more outrageous as he gets into bar fights and instigates mayhem.  His behavior with Ivy also takes a turn for the worst.

Soon Beatrix will return…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Because of the Hays Code Ivy’s profession was changed from a prostitute to a barmaid.

Spencer Tracy had hoped to play Hyde without use of make-up, but ultimately it was decided to use some.  Even still, the transformation from Jekyll to Hyde isn’t enough to make it believable that Jekyll wouldn’t be recognized.

Spencer Tracy also wanted the roles of Beatrix and Ivy to be played by the same actress.  Just as Tracy’s Jekyll and Hyde were the two sides (good and bad) of the same person, Beatrix and Ivy would be the female version.

Neither Beatrix nor Ivy appear in Robert Louis Stevenson’s novella.  They first appear in the stage play adapted by T.R. Sullivan.

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1941) is basically a remake of the 1931 Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.  Sadly, the remake falls far short of the original which was nominated for three Academy Awards, winning one.  Part of the problem is the Hays Code and part is that the transformation from Jekyll to Hyde is lacking.

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1941) rates 3 of 5 stars

Sly Stallone is Jack Carter by Rags Morales!

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Sly Stallone is Jack Carter by Rags Morales!

I was able to get this awesome piece through a mail order commission.  It was one of my best commission experiences ever.  I was kept in regular communication as to my place on Rags list and the progress of the completed piece.  It was mailed in secure packaging… and of course the piece itself is a beaut.

“28 Years Later: The Bone Temple” (2026) written by Alex Garland; directed by Nia DaCosta; starring Ralph Fiennes, Jack O’Connell and Alfie Williams / Z-View

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28 Years Later: The Bone Temple (2026)

Director:  Nia DaCosta

Screenplay: Alex Garland

Stars:  Ralph Fiennes, Jack O’Connell, Alfie Williams, Erin Kellyman, Chi Lewis-Parry, Maura Bird, Robert Rhodes, Emma Laird, Sam Locke and David Sterne.

Tagline:  Fear is the new faith.

The Plot…

At the end of 28 Years Later Spike was saved from a zombie horde by Jimmy Crystal and his followers.  Spike feels lucky until it becomes clear Jimmy Crystal is psycho Satan-worshipper.  Sir Lord Jimmy Crystal, as he calls himself, feels he is part of Satan’s plan in this zombie-plagued world.  To that end, the terrorize, mutilate and kill any people they come across… unless the are able to become one of Sir Lord Crystal’s followers.

Meanwhile, Dr. Ian Kelson has made progress with his work to find a cure for the rage virus.  If successful, it could mean a chance to free the world of the rage virus’ effects.

When Jimmy Crystal spots Dr. Ian in the distance, Sir Lord decides he and his followers will pay the good doctor a visit.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The final scenes of 28 Years Later had a comic bent that seemed out of place.  I was worried that 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple would have the same feel.  I shouldn’t have been concerned.  We learn that Jimmy Crystal and his followers are nothing to laugh about.

While I enjoyed 28 Years Later and 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, both fell short of 28 Days Later (which I consider a classic).  With that said, I think both 28 Years Later and Bone Temple work better when viewed as a whole.

There’s a scene at the end of Bone Temple that could set up the next movie in the franchise.  I hope that that film gets made.

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple (2026) rates 4 of 5 stars

“The Vampire Lestat” – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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Although I’m a huge fan of Interview with the Vampire (both the Tom Cruise movie and the AMC series), I was a bit concerned when I heard that the next season would be titled The Vampire Lestat.   A rock-and-roll vampire?  Not sure how that could work. (And no, I’ve never read the novels.)

After seeing this trailer, I think my concerns were misguided.  Time will tell.

Deal me in.

It’s time to set the record straight.

#TheVampireLestat debuts June 7 exclusively on AMC and AMC+.

“Primitive War” (2025) / Z-View

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Primitive War (2025)

Director: Luke Sparke

Screenplay: Ethan Pettus, Luke Sparke; based on PRIMITIVE WAR by Ethan Pettus

Stars: Ryan Kwanten, Tricia Helfer, Nick Wechsler, Anthony Ingruber and Jeremy Piven.

Tagline:  This ain’t no walk in the park.

The Plot…

1968.  Viet Nam.  A squad of Green Berets has gone missing while on a mission deep in the jungle.  The Vulture Squad led by Sergeant Ryan Baker, second-in-command Sergeant Xavier Wise, snipers Keyes and Stovall as well as soldiers Verne, Taylor and Miller are sent in to find the missing Berets.

What they find instead seems impossible.  Dinosaurs.  Living, breathing and very hungry dinosaurs.

This mission won’t be a walk in the park.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Primitive War is based on a self-published book by Ethan Pettus.

Soldiers vs dinosaurs, cowboys vs dinosaurs, heck anyone vs dinosaurs should be fun.  Primitive War is good, but I was hoping for better.  Still, it’s not a bad way to spend a couple of hours.

Primitive War (2025) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Primate” (2025) / Z-View

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Primate (2025)

Director: Johannes Roberts

Screenplay: Johannes Roberts, Ernest Riera

Stars: Johnny Sequoyah, Jessica Alexander, Victoria Wyant, Gia Hunter, Benjamin Cheng, Troy Kotsur, Stuart Whelan  and Ben Pronsky.

Tagline:  Something’s wrong with Ben.

The Plot…

Lucy Pinborough is heading home with some girlfriends from college.  Home is a remote Hawaiian house owned by her father.  Her dad is a famous novelist who is going to be away for the weekend on a book tour.  Lucy plans to have a party at her house with her girlfriends and some guys they met on the plane.  Oh, and Ben will be there as well.

Ben is a chimp that Lucy’s family adopted when he was just a baby.

What nobody knows is that Ben has contracted rabies.  And is about to become murderous.

Party on!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Here’s a little known fact: Hawaii is the only state in the US that maintains rabies-free status due to its strict rabies vaccination and quarantine requirements.

I had never seen Johnny Sequoyah before this.  She was excellent.

Primate (2025) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Greystoke, The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes” by Leo Leibelman!

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Leo Leibelman is a freelance artist who has provided art for comics, trading cards, novels, instructional materials, film storyboards and more.  Leo Leibelman takes commissions.

How cool is that that Leibelman chose to paint Greystoke, The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes?  Such a cool, underated movie, that deserves more recognition!

“Listen to me John. How many other white apes have you seen? You’re like me, not them. You have another family, far away, one you have never seen.” – Capitaine Phillippe D’Arnot