Previews and Reviews that are Z's Views
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 Roy Chang. As you can see, I asked for Stallone from Get Carter and Keanu Reeves as John Wick. Mr. Chang came through like a champ!
Today we have a poster and trailer for Jade. This is one I’ll check out on streaming since we have drive-ins around here.
Deal me in.
JADE – Official Trailer | On Digital February 18
Official film page: https://www.wellgousa.com/films/jade
After her brother’s untimely and accidental death at her own hands, Jade swore she’d never pick up another gun. But when she unknowingly comes between powerful businessman “Tork” and her former gang leader in their urgent search for a valuable hard drive that could single-handedly take down Interpol, she may not have a choice. With the guidance of Reese, an old friend at Interpol, Jade must come to terms with all she’s faced in the past and present to safeguard her growing family’s future.
Directed by: James Bamford
Cast: Mickey Rourke, Katherine McNamara, Mark Dacascos, and Shaina West
Shutter Island (2010)
Director: Martin Scorsese
Screenplay: Laeta Kalogridis; based on SHUTTER ISLAND by Dennis Lehane
Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley, Max von Sydow, Michelle Williams, Patricia Clarkson, Ted Levine, John Carroll Lynch, Elias Koteas, Robin Bartlett, Nellie Sciutto, Joseph Sikora, Curtiss Cook, Joseph McKenna and Jackie Earle Haley.
Tagline: Someone is missing.
The Plot…
1954.
US Marshall Edward “Teddy” Daniels (DiCaprio) is sent to the Ashecliffe Hospital for the criminally insane. Only the most violent and mentally ill patients are housed there. The Ashecliffe Hospital sits on Shutter Island, located just outside of Boston Harbor. The island rests high above sea level, with sheer cliffs on all sides. The only way in or out is through a number of secured gates attached to the only pier.
Just before departing for Shutter Island Marshall Daniels meets his new partner Officer Chuck Aule (Ruffalo). Daniels and Aule arrive on Shutter Island just ahead of a hurricane that is rapidly approaching. Daniels brings Aule up to speed. They are there to find a missing patient named Rachel Solando. Solando was there because she drowned her three children. How she could have gotten off the island is a mystery. The fact that she cannot be found on the small island seems impossible. Daniels and Aule are there to resolve the case.
Daniels tells Aule that he asked for the case. Daniels goes on to say that another of the insane criminals housed on Shutter Island is arsonist Andrew Laeddis. One of Laeddis’ victims was Daniels wife who died in one of Laeddis’ fires.
As Daniels and Aule speak with the doctors and police officers on staff, Daniels begins to feel that things are not as they seem. The patient interviews add to Daniels’ concerns. When Daniels speaks to patient George Noyce privately, Noce informs him that the doctors are lying to him. Noyce goes on to say that patients are subjected to horrible experiments. Some are even lobotomized before they can speak out.
With this new knowledge, Daniels plans to leave the island and come back with support. The only problem is the hurricane keeping all boats away. Daniels and Officer Aule had been separated. When Daniels asks about Aule, he is told that he had no partner.
Daniels realizes he’s trapped on the island and nothing is as it seemed. Daniels is outnumbered and outgunned. He’s got to find a way to survive and escape… from a place where escape is impossible.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Shutter Island is based on Dennis Lehane’s book of the same name. Both the novel and the movie get my highest recommendation.
Shutter Island is an anagram for Truths and Lies. As Daniels gets deeper and deeper into the mystery, the weather gets worse and the skies darker. The storm passes and the skies clear, once the mystery is solved. Unfortunately sunny skies may not mean a happy ending.
There are subtle clues throughout the movie as to what is actually going on. I won’t give them away, because discovering them as you watch the film is part of the fun. There’s even more enjoyment watching the film again and seeing how everything is right before our eyes.
Shutter Island (2010) rates 5 of 5 stars.
It was announced that David Lynch died today, at the age of 78. Mr. Lynch had announced last year that he had been diagnosed with emphysema.
After graduating high school, David Lynch decided to study painting. He studied at the Corcoran School of the Arts and Design in Washington, D.C., the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. It was at the Pennsylvania Academy where Mr. Lynch made his first short film. The film was well received and led Mr. Lynch to create other shorts.
A grant from the American Film Institute financed Mr. Lynch’s short, The Grandmother. David Lynch then moved to LA to begin studying filmmaking at the AFI Conservatory. While there Mr. Lynch received a $10,000 grant from the AFI to create Eraserhead. David Lynch raised the additional money required to complete filming through a loan from his father and money he saved by delivering The Wall Street Journal. After the success of Eraserhead, Mr. Lynch went on to direct Elephant Man. At that point, Mr. Lynch was well on his way to a long career as a director, writer and producer. In addition to his television and feature film directing, Mr. Lynch as continued to create shorts, music videos, write and occasionally act.
David Lynch was nominated three times for the Academy Award for Best Director, once for Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium and won an Honorary Academy Award
Television projects that feature David Lynch include: Twin Peaks (6 episodes); On the Air; Hotel Room (2 episodes) and Muholland Drive (2001).
Feature films that David Lynch directed in include: Eraserhead; The Elephant Man; Dune; Blue Velvet; Twin Peaks; Wild at Heart; Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me; Lost Highway; The Straight Story; Mulholland Drive (1999) and Twin Peaks: The Missing Pieces.
I first heard of David Lynch with his movie Eraserhead. My favorite David Lynch film is The Elephant Man.
Out thoughts and prayers go out to David Lynch’s family, friends and fans.
Since we were talking about Streets of Fire yesterday, I thought I’d share this rare advance poster today.
Tarzan Triumphs (1943)
Director: Wilhelm Thiele
Screenplay: Carroll Young, Roy Chanslor ; story by Carroll Young; based on characters created by Edgar Rice Burroughs
Stars: Johnny Weissmuller, Frances Gifford, Johnny Sheffield, Stanley Ridges, Sig Ruman, Philip Van Zandt,
Pedro de Cordoba, George Lynn and Cheetah.
Tagline: A new exciting beauty arouses Tarzan’s fighting heart…as ruthless killers from the sky invade his jungle kingdom on a rampage of murder and worse! You’ll see…NEW TARZAN THRILLS by the thousand!
The Plot…
World War II rages, but until now has not reached the jungles of Tarzan.
Until now.
A squad of Nazi paratroopers has taken over the the lost city of Palandrya. The Nazis are using the citizens as slave labor to mine rare minerals. When the Nazis kidnap Tarzan’s adopted son, Boy, Tarzan is drawn into the war.
“Ungawa!”
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Tarzan Triumphs was Johnny Weissmuller’s seventh outing as Tarzan. Those films were made at MGM. This movie came from RKO. Along with Weissmuller, the studio got Johnny Sheffield (as Boy) and Cheetah. Maureen O’Sullivan (who played Jane in the previous films) was under contract with MGM. That’s why Jane is in England during this film.
World War II was still being fought when Tarzan Triumphs was made. Sol Lesser, the executive producer of Tarzan Triumphs said it was suggested by the US State Department that having Tarzan fight Nazis would be a great morale builder.
If the fort where Tarzan and Boy are held captive looks familiar, it could be because it was the same set used in Gunga Din.
When it comes to killing Nazis even Boy, Cheeta and Boy’s pet elephant take part.
The final scene with Cheetah “talking” on the radio and Nazis in Germany thinking it is Hitler speaking is classic.
If you like Tarzan films of this era, Tarzan Triumphs is one of the better ones.
Tarzan Triumphs (1943) rates 4 of 5 stars.
Matthew Jackson at Mental Floss presents 14 Epic Facts About ‘Streets of Fire’. Before you click over to get all the facts and details, here are my three favorites with my thoughts…
Back in Action starring Jamie Foxx and Cameron Diaz looks like it might be a fun ride. Since it streams on Netflix, watching will be a no-brainer.
Deal me in.
Years after giving up life as CIA spies to start a family, Emily (Cameron Diaz) and Matt (Jamie Foxx) find themselves dragged back into the world of espionage when their cover is blown.
Release Date: January 17, 2025
Genre: Action, Comedy
CAST: Cameron Diaz, Jamie Foxx
The poster and (mainly) the trailer for The Alto Knights has moved that film to the top tier of my “must-see movies” list. My guess is that a ton of awards are in the future for all involved with this production.
Deal me in.
#TheAltoKnights starring Robert De Niro – only in theaters March 21.
From Warner Bros. Pictures, “The Alto Knights” stars Academy Award winner Robert De Niro in a dual role, directed by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Barry Levinson.
The film follows two of New York’s most notorious organized crime bosses, Frank Costello (De Niro) and Vito Genovese (De Niro), as they vie for control of the city’s streets. Once the best of friends, petty jealousies and a series of betrayals place them on a deadly collision course that will reshape the Mafia (and America) forever.
“The Alto Knights” was written by Oscar nominee Nicholas Pileggi (“Goodfellas”) and produced by Oscar winner Irwin Winkler (“Rocky,” “Goodfellas”), Levinson, Jason Sosnoff, Charles Winkler and David Winkler, with Mike Drake executive producing.
De Niro stars alongside Debra Messing (“Will & Grace”), Cosmo Jarvis (“Shōgun”), Kathrine Narducci (“The Irishman”), Michael Rispoli (“Billions”), Michael Adler (“Peppermint”), Ed Amatrudo (“Till,” “Nashville”), Joe Bacino (“Kick-Ass”), Anthony J. Gallo (“The Irishman”), Wallace Langham (“Ford v Ferrari”), Louis Mustillo (“Cooper’s Bar,” “Mike & Molly”), Frank Piccirillo, Matt Servitto (“Billions”) and Robert Uricola (“Raging Bull”).
Joining Levinson (“Rainman,” “Dopesick”) behind the camera are Oscar-nominated director of photography Dante Spinotti (“The Insider,” “L.A. Confidential”), production designer Neil Spisak (the “Spider-Man” films, “Dopesick”), Oscar-nominated editor Douglas Crise (“Babel,” “Dopesick”), Oscar-nominated costume designer Jeffrey Kurland (“Bullets Over Broadway,” “Tenet”), award-winning casting director Ellen Chenoweth (“Past Lives”) and composer David Fleming (“Hillbilly Elegy,” “Mr. & Mrs. Smith”).
Warner Bros. Pictures Presents an Irwin Winkler Production, a Barry Levinson Film, “The Alto Knights.” The film will be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures worldwide and released in theaters nationwide on March 21, 2025, and internationally beginning 19 March 2025.
The great Eduardo Risso presents…
“Cobra: The Strong Arm of the Law”.
What a great piece. Congrats to the person that commission this beauty!
The Life of the Party (1920)
Director: Joseph Henabery
Screenplay: Walter Woods; based on The Life of the Party by Irvin S. Cobb
Stars: Roscoe ‘Fatty’ Arbuckle, Winifred Greenwood, Roscoe Karns, Julia Faye and William Boyd.
Tagline: A fast and festive fun frolic in five acts and forty antics. Filled with gambols, girls and giggles and all fussed up with joy.
The Plot…
Algernon Leary (Arbuckle) is a lawyer approached by Milly Hollister and ladies from the Better Babies League. Business men from a milk consortium have worked together to drive up the price of milk. Algernon is attracted to Milly and agrees to take on the case.
Judge Voris, who is hearing the case has been secretly paid off by the consortium. The Judge has his sights on a higher office and discrediting Algernon is first on his list.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
The Life of the Party is Arbuckle’s second full length feature. It lacks to fun and joy of his shorts.
The Life of the Party (1920) rates 2 of 5 stars.
Backfire (1950)
Director: Vincent Sherman
Screenplay: Ivan Goff, Larry Marcus, Ben Roberts; story by Larry Marcus
Stars: Edmond O’Brien, Virginia Mayo, Gordon MacRae, Dane Clark, Viveca Lindfors, Sheila MacRae, David Hoffman, Monte Blue, Russ Conway, John Daheim, John Dehner and Ed Begley.
Tagline: A double-cross that doubled back…with a blonde on the end of it!
The Plot…
1948. Although the war is over, Bob Corey (MacRae) is still in a military hospital recovering from injuries. One surgery to go and Bob will just need some rehab to be good as new. Then he plans to marry his nurse, Julie Benson (Mayo) and open a ranch with his best friend Steve Connelly (O’Brien). Bob and Steve have been best friends since serving together in the war. Steve regularly visits Bob… until he doesn’t show up one day.
Late one night as Bob recovers from his final surgery a strange woman appears in his room. She wakes Bob and tells him that Steve was crippled in a terrible accident. She says that Steve wants to die but she refuses to help him commit suicide. As Bob falls back to sleep, the woman disappears.
Bob leaves the hospital determined to find his friend. As he follows clues, Bob doesn’t get much help. The police are looking for Steve for other reasons. A gambler named Lou Walsh (whose very name scares people) seems involved some how. But who is Lou Walsh?
As Bob gets closer to the truth, people begin to get murdered. The killer now has his sights on Bob and his fiancé Julie.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
The movie was filmed in 1948, but not released until 1950. In those two years Mayo and MacRae had become bigger stars and so their names were moved up to the top in advertising materials.
Backfire (1950) rates 3 of 5 stars.
I’ve been a Mike McKone fan since I first saw his art. So when McKone offered a sketch option with the purchase of his sketchbook, it was a no-brainer. I asked for Sly Stallone as Jack Carter or Dwight Manfredi. Mike McKone decided to “Get Carter” and I couldn’t be happier.
Even without the original sketch option, Mike McKone’s sketchbook should be on every art lovers “to be purchased” list. If you can get the sketch, don’t sleep on the deal.
Prince of Darkness (1987)
Director: John Carpenter
Screenplay: John Carpenter as Martin Quatermass
Stars: Donald Pleasence, Lisa Blount, Jameson Parker, Victor Wong, Dennis Dun, Susan Blanchard, Anne Marie Howard, Dirk Blocker, Jessie Lawrence Ferguson, Peter Jason, Thom Bray, Joanna Merlin and Alice Cooper.
Tagline: Before man walked the earth… it slept for centuries. It is evil. It is real. It is awakening.
The Plot…
A priest (Pleasence) discovers a large cylinder of green bubbling liquid hidden in a church. The priest can sense that the container holds something evil. In an effort to discover exactly what the substance is, the priest brings in Professor Howard Birack (Wong) and several of his best students. The team begins running tests to determine the age, make-up and other properties of the green liquid. At the same time others work to decipher the ancient manuscripts found with the cylinder.
The unknown substance is at least 7 million years old, made of pre-biotic material and is quickly evolving. The priest feels the increasing power of the substance and fears that it may be Satan or some other ancient god. Soon homeless people begin showing up outside the church. They stand a stare as if waiting for something. Then the team members begin to experience the same dream – a menacing dark figure coming towards them.
Soon the team will know the truth…
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
I’m a John Carpenter fan, but I feel that Prince of Darkness falls far short of Carpenter’s best work. As always, your mileage may vary.
Prince of Darkness (1987) rates 2 of 5 stars.
Background to Danger (1943)
Director: Raoul Walsh
Screenplay: W.R. Burnett; based on UNCOMMON DANGER by Eric Ambler
Stars: George Raft, Brenda Marshall, Sydney Greenstreet, Peter Lorre, Osa Massen, Willard Robertson,
Kurt Katch and Turhan Bey.
Tagline: GEORGE RAFT Rougher and tougher than ever! FIGHTS THE FAT MAN SYDNEY GREENSTREET You can trust him as far as you can throw him!
The Plot…
1942. World War II rages. Because Turkey is neutral, the United States, Russia and Germany have embassies trying to sway the country. Spies are everywhere.
Joe Barton (Raft) is traveling by train in Turkey when he meets a pretty woman. Barton sees a man staring at the woman. He asks if she needs help. She asks Barton to hold some papers for her. They will meet at her hotel once they arrive at their destination. Barton agrees.
Barton is followed to his hotel. In his room he is searched but the papers aren’t found. Later, after he’s made sure he wasn’t tailed, Barton heads to the hotel where the woman is staying. When he goes to her room, he discovers she’s been murdered. Barton hides when another man enters the room. As the man goes through the woman’s things, Barton escapes. He’s followed by the man who entered behind him.
Barton realizes the papers are valuable. But to which country? Barton has been set-up as the woman’s murderer. The authorities, Russian and German spies want the information in Barton’s possession.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
In the source novel, the character George Raft plays was a salesman. Raft demanded that his character be changed to an undercover FBI agent using the salesman job as a cover.
The last scene in this film shows an airplane taking off. The scene was taken from Casablanca. Interestingly enough, George Raft was offered the starring role in Casablanca, but turned it down. It became one of Humphrey Bogart’s most popular roles and the film is considered a classic.
Background to Danger (1943) rates 3 of 5 stars.
