Category: Movies

“Miracle Mile” (1988) written & directed by Steve De Jarnatt; starring Anthony Edwards & Mare Winningham / Z-View

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Miracle Mile (1988)

Director: Steve De Jarnatt

Screenplay: Steve De Jarnatt

Stars: Anthony Edwards, Mare Winningham, John Agar, Lou Hancock, Kelly Jo Minter, Kurt Fuller, Denise Crosby, Robert DoQui, O-Lan Jones, Claude Earl Jones, Alan Rosenberg, Earl Boen, Diane Delano, Alan Berger, Jenette Goldstein, Peter Berg and Mykelti Williamson.

Tagline: There are 70 minutes to the end of the world. Where can you hide?

The Plot…

Harry Washello and Julie Peters have a chance meeting.  They have a definite connection and they spend the afternoon together.  That’s all it takes for them to know they’ve met their soulmate.  They agree to meet at midnight at the diner where Julie works.

Harry oversleeps due to an accident in his building.  His alarm didn’t go off.  Julie calls but the same accident took down the phone lines.

When Harry wakes up he rushes to the diner.  He’s four hours late, but maybe, just maybe Julie is still there.  She’s not.

Harry goes to a payphone outside the diner and calls Julie.  No answer.  So he leaves an apology message.  As he walks away, the payphone rings.  It’s not Julie.  A man named Chip is trying to reach his father.  Chip is speaking quickly with terror in his voice.  Chip claims that nukes have been launched.  In 70 minutes the US and Russia will be in a full on nuclear war.  Missles are now headed for LA.  Suddenly Harry hears gunshots and Chip is gone.

At first Harry thinks the call is a prank.  He speaks to folks in the diner.  Most laugh off the call… but one lady with connections makes a couple of calls.  She learns that politicians are hightailing it out of DC.  She tells the diners they need to get as far from the city as they can as fast as they can.

Harry believes the threat is real.  He’s not willing to leave without Julie.  He has a plan but time is running out.  As Harry makes his way across the city, word of incoming nukes is quickly spreading.  The city becomes a madhouse.

And the clock is ticking.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)… 

In 2001, Anthony Edwards and Mare Winningham were married!  They had been married and divorced to others, but reconnected years later.

Miracle Mile marks Peter Berg’s feature film debut.

Miracle Mile features three actors who appeared in Terminator films…

  • Earl Boen (The Terminator – 1984, Terminator 2: Judgment Day – 1991, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines – 2003, and Terminator: Dark Fate -2019)
  • Brian Thompson (The Terminator – 1984)
  • Jenette Goldstein (Terminator 2: Judgment Day – 1991)

Miracle Mile plays out like a fever-dream.  Writer/director Steve De Jarnatt had a vision for his film and he stuck to his guns to get it.

Miracle Mile (1988) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“This Side of the Law” (1950) starring Viveca Lindfors, Kent Smith, Janis Paige, Robert Douglas / Z-View

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This Side of the Law (1950)

Director: Richard L. Bare

Screenplay: Russell S. Hughes; story by Richard Sale

Stars: Viveca Lindfors, Kent Smith, Janis Paige, Robert Douglas, John Alvin, Nita Talbot,
Michael Mark, Edward Van Sloan and Monte Blue.

Tagline: He’s coming back – the man they thought they double-crossed to death!

The Plot…

David Cummings is going through hard times.  Homeless and looking for work, Cummings is picked up on a vagrancy charge.  The judge sentences him to “$50 or 30 days.”  Cummings is surprised to learn that Philip Cagle, a lawyer in the courtroom, paid his fine.

Cagle then takes Cummings to dinner and offers him a job.  It turns out that Cummings looks exactly like one of Cagle’s clients.  A rich man who disappeared nearly seven years ago.  In fact, in two weeks it will be seven years exactly that the man has been missing.  At that point the man will be declared dead and the man’s estate will be divided up among the missing man’s wife, brother and sister-in-law.

Cagle offers Cummings $500 to impersonate the missing man.  Cagle hopes that Cummings will then be able to discover the fate of the missing man.  Cummings agrees to the job… for $5,000.00 and is surprised when Cagle agrees to the sum.

Cummings is able to fool everyone.  He quickly discovers that each member of the missing man’s family had reason to kill him.  And now at least one of them has reason to kill him again.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)… 

If you can go along with the conceit that the imposter could fool the missing man’s wife, brother and former lover, then this movie works well.  I went with it and enjoyed the ride.

This Side of the Law marks Nita Talbot’s first credited feature film role.  Ms. Talbot would go on to accumulate over 150 credits on her acting resume.

This Side of the Law (1950) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Absolution” (2024) starring Liam Neeson / Z-View

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Absolution (2024)

Director: Hans Petter Moland

Screenplay: Tony Gayton

Stars: Liam Neeson, Daniel Diemer, Javier Molina, Jimmy Gonzales, Brian A. White, William Xifaras, John Duddy, Yolonda Ross, Bruce Busta Soscia and Ron Perlman.

Tagline: Everyone pays in the end.

The Plot…

An aging legbreaker learns that he has Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).  He’s already forgetting things.  His diagnosis is fatal. In just a few months he will lose all memory.  The thug hopes to reconnect with his estranged daughter and grandson before he dies.

But time is running out… and his crime boss has other plans.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)… 

I was hoping for better.  Absolution is, pun intended, forgettable.

A film that had a similar take and was excellent is Knox Goes Away.

Absolution (2024) rates 2 of 5 stars.

Rocky vs Clubber Lang by Meesimo!

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Every year the Cartoon Art Museum does a fundraiser.  Artists take on commissions with the funds raised going to support the Museum.  It’s a great cause by awesome artists who share their talents in an effort to support the Museum.

This year one of the two artists I commissioned was Christian “Meesimo” Meesey.  As you can see, I asked for Stallone and Mr. T from Rocky III.

Meesimo came through with a knockout addition to my collection.

“The Lost World” (1925) / Z-View

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The Lost World (1925)

Director: Harry O. Hoyt

Screenplay: Marion Fairfax; based on THE LOST WORLD by Arthur Conan Doyle

Stars: Bessie Love, Lewis Stone, Wallace Beery, Lloyd Hughes and Arthur Conan Doyle.

Tagline: See the mighty prehistoric monsters clash with modern lovers in a most remarkable story of love, romance and amazing adventure.

The Plot…

Explorer Maple White is missing.  His journal details an amazing lost land where dinosaurs still roam!  A newspaper sponsors a rescue party consisting of Professor Challenger (an ecentric professor), his butler Austin, Paula White (Maple’s adult daughter), Sir John Roxton, the newspaper’s reporter Edward Malone (reluctantly going to impress his fiancée), Professor Summerlee (who is skeptical that they will find living dinosaurs), and Zambo (an Indian servant).

The rescue team finds more than expected… and may themselves need rescuing!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)… 

The Lost World is the first US (and maybe the world) feature film to feature stop motion animation photography as the primary special effect.

In April 1925, The Lost World became the first in-flight movie shown to passengers on a London to Paris flight by Imperial Airways.

Buyers beware.  The Lost World has fallen into public domain so there are many shoddy copies out there.

The Lost World (1925) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Weapons” (2025) written & directed by Zach Cregger; starring Julia Garner, Josh Brolin and Amy Madigan / Z-View

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Weapons (2025)

Director: Zach Cregger

Screenplay: Zach Cregger

Stars: Julia Garner, Josh Brolin, Cary Christopher, Benedict Wong, Anny Jules, Howard St. John, Ali Burch, Alden Ehrenreich, Whitmer Thomas, Melissa Ponzio and Amy Madigan.

Tagline: Last night at 2:17 am every child from Mrs. Gandy’s class woke up, got out of bed, went downstairs, opened the front door, walked into the dark …and they never came back.

The Plot…

At 2:17 am, while nearly everyone in Maybrook, Pennsylvania, was fast asleep, 17 children got out of their beds, quietly left their homes and disappeared.  Several security cameras caught the children running from their homes into the night.  Police were stymied.  The children vanished with no clues as to where or why.

When it became clear that all of the children were in Justine Gandy’s third grade class, she became the main suspect.  Police questioned Ms. Gandy but there was nothing linking her to the disappearance.  It was a strange case. All but one of the children in Justine Gandy’s class were missing.  Only one, Alex Lilly, showed up for school the next day.  Neither Alex or his parents had any idea what/who was behind the missing children.

Justine Gandy, frustrated with police efforts decides to investigate.  She believes that Alex’s parents know more than they are saying.

She will find out just how wrong she is…

Archer Graff, the parent of a missing student, frustrated with police efforts decides to investigate.  He believes Justine Gandy knows more than she is saying.

He’ll find out just how wrong he is…

Ring the bell.  School’s in.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)… 

Netflix premiered Weapons at 2:17 am, the same time as the disappearance of the children.

Amy Madigan was perfect!

Weapons (2025) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“The Undercover Man” (1949) starring Glenn Ford / Z-View

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The Undercover Man (1949)

Director: Joseph H. Lewis

Screenplay: Sydney Boehm, Malvin Wald (additional dialogue) based on Undercover Man: He Trapped Capone by Frank J. Wilson from a story outline by Jack Rubin

Stars: Glenn Ford, Nina Foch, James Whitmore, Barry Kelley, David Bauer (as David Wolfe), Howard St. John, Leo Penn, Esther Minciotti, Angela Clarke, Anthony Caruso, Robert Osterloh, Kay Medford, Patricia Barry (as Patricia White) and Peter Brocco.

Tagline: TOLD WITH THE SNARL OF A MACHINE GUN!

The Plot…

US Treasury Agent Frank Warren has been assigned to bring down the mob boss know as Big Fellow.  Every witness or informent is terrified from testifying, paid off or found dead.  Then Warren gets a lead from an unexpected source.

Now Big Fellow has targeted Frank Warren and his wife to die.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)… 

Big Fellow was of course based on Al Capone.

The Undercover Man marks James Whitmore’s feature film debut.

Leo Penn is the father of actors Sean and Chris Penn.

The Undercover Man (1949) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“The Big Steal” (1949) directed by Don Siegel; starring Robert Mitchum, Jane Greer and William Bendix / Z-View

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The Big Steal (1949)

Director: Don Siegel

Screenplay: Gerald Drayson Adams, Daniel Mainwaring (as Geoffrey Homes) based on “The Road to Carmichael’s” by Richard Wormser

Stars: Robert Mitchum, Jane Greer, William Bendix, Patric Knowles, Ramon Novarro, Don Alvarado and John Qualen.

Tagline: It’s a tough, terrific adventure in grand larceny! But, there’s more than money on his mind…when he mixes with this gal with the million dollar figure!

The Plot…

$300,000 was robbed from a U.S. military payroll. Army lieutenant Duke Halliday wants the money.  He knows Jim Fiske has it, but Fiske is on the lam.  Duke is in pursuit.  Duke’s superior, Captain Blake is after both Duke and Fiske.  Blake intends to get the money back.

Fiske makes it across the US/Mexican border with both Duke and Blake not far behind.  In Mexico, Duke meets Joan Graham.  Fiske scammed her for $2,000.00.  Duke and Joan reluctantly agree to work together.

Fiske is desperate.  He’s come too far to lose the money.  And he’ll kill anyone who gets in his way.  Duke and Joan are in his way.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)… 

Don Siegel, who would go on to helm classics such as Dirty Harry and Invasion of the Body Snatchers does a fine job in his third outing as a feature film director.

The film’s shooting schedule was disrupted by Robert Mitchum’s 50-day prison sentence for marijuana possession.

Jane Russell was up for the female lead, but Howard Hughes was worried that Mitchum’s marijuana arrest would reflect badly on her.  Russell was RKO Studios biggest female star and Hughes nixed her for the role.  Lizabeth Scott refused the part, because she was also afraid it would tarnish her career.  Jane Greer, who had worked with Mitchum in Out of the Past, got the role.

The Big Steal is the 1940s version of a chase movie.

There’s a couple of unexpected twists at the end.  The Big Steal is a fun ride.

The Big Steal (1949) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“The Iron Claw” written & directed by Sean Durkin; starring Zac Efron, Jeremy Allen White, Harris Dickinson, Maura Tierney, Stanley Simons with Holt McCallany and Lily James / Z-View

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The Iron Claw (2023)

Director:  Sean Durkin

Screenplay: Sean Durkin

Stars: Zac Efron, Jeremy Allen White, Harris Dickinson, Maura Tierney, Stanley Simons, Lily James, Chavo Guerrero Jr., Garrett Hammond, Cazzey Louis Cereghino, Kevin Anton, Michael Papajohn and Holt McCallany.

Tagline:  Sons. Brothers. Champions.

The Plot…

The Von Erich family is known in professional wrestling circles not only for their legendary rise to the top, but also the multiple tragedies they suffered along the way.

Fritz Von Erich, although a successful professional wrestler, never became champion.  This left him bitter.  Fritz had five sons.  One died tragically at an early age.  The four others were given a strict upbringing and became professional wrestlers.  Fritz pinned his dream of winning a championship on his sons.  This brought the boys closer together.

A championship was in the family’s future, but also the tragedies of three more sons dying along the way.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)… 

The Iron Claw is the true story of the Von Erich family.  Some changes were made to timeline of events, which is expected since the film isn’t a documentary.  The family was said to be cursed.  There were even more family deaths than appear in the film.

Holt McCallany is excellent as Fritz Von Erich.

I have never seen a part more miscast than that of Aaron Dean Eisenberg as Ric Flair.

The Iron Claw (2023) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Creature from the Black Lagoon” Reboot Designs by Miles Teves!

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There have been several attempts to revive The Creature from the Black Lagoon.  (And I wish someone would get it done!)  John Carpenter was involved with a reboot for a while, but that project never crossed the finish line.

What we see here today is concept art created by Miles Teves.  Teves has worked in film/television as a concept artist, illustrator, and makeup FX sculptor since 1984.  The illustrations here were created for a possible Creature from the Black Lagoon reboot around 1997.  At that time Carpenter had moved on and Ivan Reitman was leading the charge.  Sadly, Reitman’s movie never made it to filming.

It’s interesting to note the changes Teves made from the original CFTBL design.  Note the tail and a more lizard-like appearance.

Source: Body Snatchers.