Category: Movies

“Pay Day” (1922) written, directed and staring Charlie Chaplin / Z-View

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Pay Day (1922)

Director: Charlie Chaplin

Screenplay: Charlie Chaplin

Stars: Charlie Chaplin, Mack Swain, Edna Purviance, Syd Chaplin, Albert Austin, John Rand, Loyal Underwood, Henry Bergman  and Al Ernest Garcia.

Tagline: See Charlie juggle bricks and dodge the foreman—and hide his pay check from his wife.

The Plot…

Charlie Chaplin is a construction worker.  On pay day Charlie’s wife takes his cash (even the money he’s hidden).  Charlie sneaks enough of it back for a night out drinking and having fun. Too much fun (and drinking) and Charlie discovers getting home won’t be easy.

And Charlie knows his wife will be waiting.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Pay Day was Charlie Chaplin’s last short and reportedly one of his favorites.

Pay Day (1922) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“Hellboy: The Crooked Man” (2024) starring Jack Kesy, Jefferson White, Adeline Rudolph and Martin Bassindale / Z-View

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Hellboy: The Crooked Man (2024)

Director: Brian Taylor

Screenplay: Christopher Golden, Mike Mignola, Brian Taylor

Stars: Jack Kesy, Jefferson White, Adeline Rudolph, Leah McNamara, Joseph Marcell, Anton Trendafilov and Martin Bassindale.

Tagline: From original story by Mike Mignola.

The Plot…

1959.  Hellboy (Kesy) and rookie BRPD (Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense) agent, Bobbie Jo Song, (Rudolph) find themselves stranded deep in the woods of the Appalachian Mountains following a train derailment.  There the meet Tom Ferrell (White).  Ferrell has returned hoping to make things right.  Years ago Ferrell made a deal with The Crooked Man.

The deal will cost Ferrell his soul.  Hellboy has other plans.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Although there have been four Hellboy movies this is the first where Mike Mignola, Hellboy creator, received a co-screenwriter credit.

This is the first Hellboy movie that feels like a horror film.  The music is especially creepy.

The biggest shock for me was the look of Hellboy this time out.  I am so used to Ron Perlman as the big lug.  Hellboy: The Crooked Man is set in 1959. Since Hellboy first appeared on earth in 1944 and the Perlman version appears around 1999, I put it in my mind we were seeing a much younger Hellboy and one day he would grow to look like Perlman’s Hellboy.  That fixed that.

I really liked Hellboy: The Crooked Man.  I’m surprised that it doesn’t have better ratings.  It could be most of these folks only know Hellboy from Guillermo Del Toro and Ron Perlman.  If so, they should give the Mike Mignola stories a look.  Perhaps then they’d appreciate Hellboy: The Crooked Man more.

Hellboy: The Crooked Man (2024) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Sin City” (2005) directed by Robert Rodriguez, Frank Miller; starring Mickey Rourke, Clive Owen, Bruce Willis, Jessica Alba & Benico Del Toro / Z-View

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Sin City (2005)

Director: Robert Rodriguez, Frank Miller based on Sin City created by Frank Miller

Screenplay: Frank Miller, Robert Rodriguez

Stars: Mickey Rourke, Clive Owen, Bruce Willis, Jessica Alba, Devon Aoki, Alexis Bledel, Powers Boothe, Jude Ciccolella, Jeff Dashnaw, Rosario Dawson, Benicio Del Toro, Elijah Wood, Carla Gugino, Josh Hartnett, Rutger Hauer, Greg Ingram, Nicky Katt, Jaime King, Michael Madsen, Frank Miller, Brittany Murphy, Nick Stahl, Nick Offerman, Jason Douglas, Michael Clarke Duncan, Rick Gomez and Tommy Flanagan.

Tagline: Walk down the right back alley in Sin City and you can find anything.

The Plot…

Four interconnected tales from Sin City…

The Customer is Always Right… A hitman that marks don’t see coming until it is too late. (Bookends the movie.)

That Yellow Bastard… For Detective John Hartigan (Willis) it’s his last day on the job.  He’s thinking about the thick steak his wife has waiting for him at the end of his shift.  But first, Hartigan is going to have a run-in with a serial killer who preys on children. Hartigan learns that the sick bastard is the son of a Senator, and is now prepping his next victim.  Hartigan knows this can only end one way.  He’ll save the child or die trying.

The Hard Goodbye… Marv (Rourke) is a ex-con hardcase.  Last night he had a one night stand with a goddess named Goldie.  She was beautiful beyond belief.  Marv wonders why she picked a big scary mug like him when she could have any man she wanted.  He’ll have to work it out later.  He just woke up.  Goldie is in bed beside him.  Dead.  Someone snuck in and murdered her while they were sleeping.  And now Marv hears cops coming up the stairs.  Someone set him up.  Someone killed Goldie.  Marv knows once he finds the killer the hell he sends the murderer to will seem like heaven after what Marv does to him.  But first the cops outside his door…

The Big Fat Kill… When Shellie’s ex-boyfriend, Jackie Boy (Del Toro) shows up unexpectedly with his crew, he’s surprised to find Shellie’s new boyfriend, Dwight (Owen) there.  The events that follow will lead to a potential turf war… unless Dwight and some of his friends from Old Town can set things right.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Sin City, the movie, is what Robert Rodriguez called a “translation” of three of Frank Miller’s Sin City graphic novels – The Hard Goodbye; The Big Fat Kill, That Yellow Bastard and Miller’s Sin City short, The Customer is Always Right.  They are some of my all time favorite comics and the movie is a beautiful “translation”.

Quentin Tarantino is listed as a guest director.  Tarantino directed the scene between Dwight and Jackie Boy before the cop pulls the car over.

Rodriguez filmed the opening “intro” before Miller agreed to the Sin City “translation”.  Rodriguez wanted to prove that Miller’s Sin City tales could work as a movie that complemented the comics.  The comic panels from each tale were used as storyboards.

Robert Rodriguez working with Frank Miller to bring Sin City to the big screen was a dream project for me.  Magnificent casting was the icing on the cake.  If you like the comics, you should enjoy the movie.

Sin City (2005) rates 5 of 5 stars.

NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD: THE OFFICIAL STORY OF THE FILM by Simon Braund is Coming (to get you, Barbara)!

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Has any film influenced a genre and had an impact on movies, television, books, comics, graphic novels, video games and pop culture like George Romero’s Night of the Living Dead?  I don’t think so.

Fans of the movie are in for a treat on September 30th when NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD: THE OFFICIAL STORY OF THE FILM by Simon Braund is released.  Here’s the info…

The official retrospective of one of cinema’s most important films – Night of the Living Dead.

The full story of the first “zombie” movie, the 1968 George A. Romero cult film that denoted the birth of modern horror genre.

Released in 1968, George A. Romero’s Night of the Living Dead revolutionized horror, redefining the zombie subgenre and influencing filmmakers for generations.

This official retrospective tells the full story of how the film was made by a small group of people at the outset of their film-making careers. Interviews with cast and production company members explore the genesis of the movie, from persuading friends and family to become investors, finding the perfect run-down farmhouse in rural western Pennsylvania for the central location, assembling a cast of extras to portray “flesh-eating ghouls”, and the ground-breaking casting of a black actor in a leading role — Duane Jones as Ben — to therough-and-tumble guerilla-style shoot.

The book explores how Night of the Living Dead went from controversial to iconic over the years, gaining critical acclaim and a hardcore cult following. And how zombies — as envisioned by Romero and his co-creators—now permeate everything from video games to literature, all tracing back to the unparalleled original.

Illustrated with movie stills, memorabilia, and unpublished on-set photos never previously seen, and including analysis of the original shooting script annotated by George A. Romero, this book is a must-have for horror fans.

“Clipped Wings” (1953) starring Leo Gorcey, Huntz Hall and the Bowery Boys / Z-View

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Clipped Wings (1953)

Director: Edward Bernds

Screenplay: Elwood Ullman, Charles R. Marion

Stars: Leo Gorcey, Huntz Hall, Renie Riano, Todd Karns, June Vincent, Fay Roope, Mary Treen, David Gorcey,
Benny Bartlett, Philip Van Zandt, Lyle Talbot, Ray Walker, Conrad Brooks and Bernard Gorcey.

Tagline: Fasten Your LAFF-Belts! They’re JET JOCKEYS NOW!

The Plot…

Slip (L. Gorcey) and Sach (Hall) learn that their buddy, Dave Moreno (Karns) has been charged with treason by the US Air Force.  So the boys decide to go to the base to find out what is going on.  Leave it to Slip and Satch to think that they are signing in to the air force base when they are actually enlisting!

To further screw things up, Sach is mistakenly assigned to the WAF (Women’s Air Force) barracks!

Even if the boys are able to prove Dave’s innocent, they are in the Air Force now!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Clipped Wings is the 31st of 48 Bowery Boys movies.

Clipped Wings (1953) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“Chaos: The Manson Murders” (2025) / Z-View

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Chaos: The Manson Murders (2025)

Director: Errol Morris

Based on: CHAOS: CHARLES MANSON, THE C.I.A., AND THE SECRET HISTORY OF THE SIXTIES  by Tom O’Neill with Dan Piepenbring

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Chaos: The Manson Murders details the events leading up to the murders of Sharon Tate (who was 8 1/2 months pregnant), Jay Sebring, Voytek Frykowski, Abigail Folger, Steven Parent, Leno LaBianca, and Rosemary LaBianca.  It also explores other lesser-known murders and crimes committed by Manson and his followers.

It then investigates possible connections between Charles Manson and the C.I.A.  How could it be possible that Manson was able to break parole, create a cult of followers who did his bidding and fly under the radar of the police?  Could there have been more at play than we know?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Chaos: The Manson Murders does an excellent job of detailing the events and people involved in Charlie Manson’s cult, the victims, as well as the trial of the century.  In addition other crimes and little know facts are presented.  I’ve followed the Manson murders/trial as well as books, documentaries, television specials, etc. for decades.  I enjoyed Chaos: The Manson Murders, but found the C.I.A. speculation to be a bit of stretch.  Still, I thought the documentary was excellent.

Chaos: The Manson Murders (2025) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“F1” starring Brad Pitt – The Poster & Trailer are Here!

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Here we have the poster and trailer for F1 starring Brad Pitt.  The trailer looks to hit many of the same beats as Driven starring Sly Stallone.  Who doesn’t love the old gunfighter coming back to teach the young hotshot?

Deal me in.

Meet APXGP. Sonny Hayes and Joshua Pearce. #F1Movie only in theaters this SUMMER.

From Apple Original Films and the filmmakers from Top Gun: Maverick comes the high-octane, action-packed feature film F1, starring Brad Pitt and directed by Joseph Kosinski. The film is produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, Kosinski, seven-time FORMULA 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton, Pitt, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner and Chad Oman.

Dubbed “the greatest that never was,” Sonny Hayes (Brad Pitt) was FORMULA 1’s most promising phenom of the 1990s until an accident on the track nearly ended his career. Thirty years later, he’s a nomadic racer-for-hire when he’s approached by his former teammate Ruben Cervantes (Javier Bardem), owner of a struggling FORMULA 1 team that is on the verge of collapse. Ruben convinces Sonny to come back to FORMULA 1 for one last shot at saving the team and being the best in the world. He’ll drive alongside Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris), the team’s hotshot rookie intent on setting his own pace. But as the engines roar, Sonny’s past catches up with him and he finds that in FORMULA 1, your teammate is your fiercest competition—and the road to redemption is not something you can travel alone.

F1 also stars Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Tobias Menzies, Kim Bodnia, and Javier Bardem, and has been shot during actual Grand Prix weekends as the team competes against the titans of the sport.

Kosinski directs from a screenplay by Ehren Kruger. The film is executive produced by Daniel Lupi. Collaborating with Kosinski behind the scenes are his creative team, including director of photography Claudio Miranda, production designers Mark Tildesley and Ben Munro, editor Stephen Mirrione, costume designer Julian Day, casting director Lucy Bevan and composer Hans Zimmer.

Apple Original Films Presents a Monolith Pictures / Jerry Bruckheimer / Plan B Entertainment / Dawn Apollo Films Production, A Film by Joseph Kosinski, F1, distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, in theaters and IMAX nationwide on June 27, 2025 and internationally beginning 25 June 2025.

“The 8th Day” – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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The poster and trailer for The 8th Day is here.

The person in charge of advertising should have done a better job.  The poster is too bright if this is a low-budget gritty crime story (as the trailer indicates).  And check out the synopsis below the trailer…

Two small-time thieves find themselves in a remote West Texas town.

How boring and non-descriptive is that?

So… if you’ve read this far, maybe just check out the trailer.  I like the looks of it.

Deal me in.

US Release Date: March 14, 2025
Starring: Coley Speaks, Darren Mann, Phoebe Tonkin
Director: Alexandra Chando
Synopsis: Two small-time thieves find themselves in a remote West Texas town.

“Manson: The Women” (2019) / Z-View

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Manson: The Women (2019)

Director: James Buddy Day

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Manson: The Women explores how four of Charles Manson’s female cult members were recruited, compelled to follow Manson’s every command and how they feel about Manson today.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Manson: The Women takes an interesting idea and showcases how four women who were members of Charles Manson’s family were recruited, compelled to follow Manson’s orders and how they feel about Manson today.  This is done using vintage footage, and interviews coupled with current interviews.

The recruitment method was similar for all of the women — they were young troubled girls without a support system looking for one.  Once in the family, Manson won them over using drugs, sex and saying things to make them feel special (even though he treated them terribly).  Manson had sex with all of them and made them available to anyone he wanted to impress.  They would beg, steal, and even kill for Charlie Manson.

All these years later, two looked back on their time in the cult with disgust, while two still spoke favorably about Manson and the things that went on there.

Manson: The Women (2019) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“All Souls” (2023) starring Mikey Madison & Gerald ‘G-Eazy’ Gillum / Z-View

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All Souls (2023)

Director: Emmanuelle Pickett

Screenplay: Anthony Ragnone II

Stars: Mikey Madison, Gerald G-Eazy Gillum, Calvin Clausell Jr., Jess Gabor, Xavier Jimenez, Joseph H. Johnson Jr., Samuel Roukin, Eric C. Sun, Faye Tamasa and Craig Ng.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

River (Madison) is a young single parent of a cute 5 year old girl named Jade.  When River is caught with weed, the two arresting cops offer her a chance to walk if she will serve as their confidential informant.  All River has to do is wear a wire to a buy from a major dealer named Silas (G-Eazy).  No one has been able to get close to Silas, but River has an “in”.

Silas got River high when she was sixteen then took advantage of her.  Silas is Jade’s father, although he’s never had any contact with her.  River cut all ties to Silas when she discovered she was pregnant.

Concerned that if she doesn’t set up Silas, the cops will go forward with charges.  She would go to jail and Jade would become a ward of the state.  River (and the cops) know Silas will kill her if it is discovered she is wearing a wire.  The cops promise they’ll be right there and rush in when the deal is done.  Then River will be able to walk away free and clear.

Feeling she has no choice, River takes the deal.

As with the best laid plans, things go sideways…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I’m surprised that All Souls isn’t a better known film.  It is well done from top to bottom.  Kudos to writer Anthony Ragnone II, and director Emmanuelle Pickett.  They’ve created a story that feels and looks like it could be taking place in any town’s drug area.

Mikey Madison is amazing in this role.  I’d never seen her before, but she is definitely an actress to watch. I’d say that even if she hadn’t just won an Best Actress Oscar.

I’d also never seen Gerald G-Eazy Gillum before.  He’s really good as Silas.  Perhaps acting may rival music for a career choice.

All Souls easily rates 4 of 5 stars for me.  I plan to watch it again soon with my wife.  Who knows, further consideration might kick it up to 5 stars.

All Souls (2023) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Chuka” starring Rod Taylor, Ernest Borgnine & John Mills / Z-View

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Chuka (1967)

Director: Gordon Douglas

Screenplay: Richard Jessup, Rod Tayor (uncredited); based on CHUKA by Richard Jessup

Stars: Rod Taylor, Ernest Borgnine, John Mills, Luciana Paluzzi, James Whitmore, Victoria Vetri, Louis Hayward, Joseph Sirola and Michael Cole.

Tagline: They called him saddle-bum…desert rat…pistolero…but where would they have been without Chuka on that bloody summer’s day.

The Plot…

A stagecoach makes it to Fort Clandennon, a remote US calvary outpost located on the frontier.  Accompanying the stage is a gunfighter named Chuka (Taylor).  Chuka rode with the stagecoach after finding it broken down in Arapaho country.  On the stage is Senora Veronica Kleitz (Paluzzi) and her niece Senorita Helena Chavez (Vetri).

Fort Clandennon is under the command of Colonel Valois (Mills).  The soldiers at the outpost, except for Sergeant Hansbach (Borgnine), have been sent there as punishment for past crimes. Sergeant Hansbach is an excellent soldier dedicated to Colonel Valois.  Hansbach takes an instant dislike to Chuka.  The feeling is mutual.

Colonel Valois is concerned with talk of an Arapaho uprising.  His last patrol never returned.  Chuka sees that Valois soldiers aren’t up to an attack and tells Valois they need to leave.  Colonel Valois is insulted and refuses.

But it’s too late.  The Arapaho are on the move.  It looks to be a massacre.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Chuka was one of my favorite westerns when I saw it a child.  It still is.

Rod Taylor, Ernest Borgnine and James Whitmore shine.

The fight between Chuka and Sergeant Hansbach is a perfect cap to their escalating dislike for each other.

The reveal of why Hansbach is so dedicated to Colonel Valois was shocking to me as a kid. (And no, it’s not because of what you’re thinking.)  It was a bold choice for 1967.

Chuka deserves to be better known.

Chuka (1967) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Prophecy” starring Talia Shire & Armand Assante – Christopher Shy’s Alt Movie Poster!

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Christopher Shy‘s excellent alt movie poster for Prophecy reminded me of the horror film that doesn’t get enough love.

Prophecy was written by David (The Omen) Seltzer, directed by John (Ronin) Frankenheimer and starred Talia (Rocky) Shire, Robert (Damien: Omen II) and Armand (I, the Jury) Assante.

I saw Prophecy when it was first released. I liked it much better than expected.  I’ve seen Prophecy at least once since then (years ago) and thought it held up well.  Thanks to Christopher Shy, Prophecy is now on my list for another watch.

“Outlaw Johnny Black” starring Michael Jai White / Z-View

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Outlaw Johnny Black (2023)

Director: Michael Jai White

Screenplay: Michael Jai White, Byron Keith Minns

Stars: Michael Jai White, Anika Noni Rose, Erica Ash, Byron Minns, Chris Browning, Barry Bostwick, Randy Couture, Tommy Davidson, Gary Anthony Williams, Eme Ikwuakor, Jalyn Hall, Roger Yuan, Michael Madsen, Josh Barnett, Glynn Turman, Paul Sloan and Donald Cerrone.

Tagline: From the Brothers Who Brought You Black Dynamite

The Plot…

Johnny Black (White) is a wanted man.  Quick with a gun or his fists (or his feet – a martial artist in the old west!), Black is going to find and kill Brett Clayton (Browning).  Clayton killed Johnny Black’s father.  An eye for an eye and all that.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The Outlaw Johnny Black wants to be for westerns what Black Dynamite was for blaxploitation films.  Sadly, at least for met the jokes weren’t landing and it felt like a poor tv version of Blazing Saddles (which I loved) crossed with Mario Van Peebles’ Posse (which I liked a lot).

I tapped out at 37 minutes.  Of course your mileage may vary.

Outlaw Johnny Black (2023) rates 1 of 5 stars.