Category: Movies

“Rounding” – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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The poster is so-so, but the trailer for Rounding has me on board.

Deal me in.

ROUNDING opens in select theaters and on digital February 14.

After a traumatic incident, a driven young medical resident transfers to a rural hospital for a fresh start, but the demons of his past start to catch up to him when he becomes consumed by the case of a patient with mysterious symptoms.

Cast: Namir Smallwood, Sidney Flanigan, Michael Potts, Rebecca Spence
Director: Alex Thompson

“A Working Man” screenplay by Sylvester Stallone; directed by David Ayer; starring Jason Statham, David Harbour & Michael Peña – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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Today we have the poster and trailer for A Working Man written by Sylvester Stallone, based on a character created by Chuck Dixon.  The film stars Jason Statham, David Harbour and Michael Peña.  The working title for the film was Levon Cade.

Deal me in.

Human Traffickers Beware.

Watch the trailer for #AWorkingMan, starring Jason Statham and from ‘The Beekeeper’ director David Ayer.

See the movie only in theaters March 28.

“Nightmare” (1956) written & directed by Maxwell Shane; starring Edward G. Robinson & Kevin McCarthy / Z-View

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Nightmare (1956)

Director:  Maxwell Shane

Screenplay: Maxwell Shane; based on And So to Death by Cornell Woolrich

Stars: Edward G. Robinson, Kevin McCarthy, Connie Russell, Virginia Christine, Gage Clarke, Marian Carr,
Barry Atwater, John Mitchum, Cosmo Sardo and Rhys Williams.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Stan Grayson (McCarthy) wakes from a restless night.  Stan dreamed he had a fought and killed a man.  When Stan notices strangle marks on his neck, blood on his wrist and a key that he’s never seen before, he begins to believe it wasn’t a dream.

Wracked with guilt and confusion, Stan tells his brother-in-law, New Orleans Detective Rene Bressard (Robinson) about the situation.  Bressard assures Stan it was just a dream.  Stan probably scratched himself as he was tossing and turning.  Stan isn’t so sure.

Things take a turn for the worse when it is discovered that a man was killed where Stan’s “dream” took place. Only the man wasn’t the only one murdered!  Is Stan a killer?  Has he been set up?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Nightmare features a creative opening and a great mystery set-up.  Along the way we get a couple of unexpected turns.

If you’re a fan of mystery movies of this era, you should enjoy Nightmare.

Nightmare (1956) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“In the Lost Lands” starring Dave Bautista & Milla Jovovich – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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The poster and trailer for In the Lost Lands starring Dave Bautista and Milla Jovovich are here.  It looks to be more fantasy than I usually like, but so far I do like what I see.

A Queen sends the powerful and feared sorceress Gray Alys to the ghostly wilderness of the Lost Lands in search of a magical power, where the sorceress and her guide, the drifter Boyce, must outwit and outfight man and demon.

Starring: Dave Bautista, Milla Jovovich
Directed by: Paul W.S. Anderson
Release Date: March 7, 2025

“Broken Darkness” (2017) written & directed by Christopher-Lee dos Santos / Z-View

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Broken Darkness (2017)

Director:  Christopher-Lee dos Santos

Screenplay: Christopher-Lee dos Santos

Stars: Sean Cameron Michael, Suraya Rose Santos, Brandon Auret, Ryan Kruger and Jonathan Pienaar.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Years ago massive world-wide meteor showers forced survivors into an underground existence.  Tunnels now connect “stations” where groups survive.  Although each station is self-sufficient, there is little power for lights, heat, or any modern convenience. Survivors have been reduced to living in the dark and existing on little.

When the Kentucky station’s water supply is cut due to a leak, Sam, Troy and Rose are sent to find and repair the problem.  This will take them far from the station and into dangerous areas where mutants and cannibals roam.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Broken Darkness has an interesting set-up and the plot sounds exciting.  Sadly the end result doesn’t live up to expectations.  I found Broken Darkness to be slow and when the action did start, not exciting enough to keep me interested.  I tapped out at 59 minutes.

Broken Darkness (2017) rates 1 of 5 stars.

“Nosferatu the Vampyre” (1979) written & directed by Werner Herzog; starring Klaus Kinski & Isabelle Adjani / Z-View

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Nosferatu the Vampyre (1979)

Director:  Werner Herzog

Screenplay: Werner Herzog; based on Nosferatu by F. W. Murnau; and DRACULA by Bram Stoker

Stars: Klaus Kinski, Isabelle Adjani, Bruno Ganz.

Tagline: Nosferatu…he who is doomed to wander alone in darkness. Nosferatu…he who is condemned to destroy even those whom he loves. Nosferatu…a tale of seduction in the dark night of the soul.

The Plot…

Jonathan Harker (Ganz) is sent to Transylvania to finalize an estate purchase with Count Dracula (Kinski).  Harker is unaware that Dracula is a vampire that will soon become infatuated with his wife, Lucy (Adjani).

Dracula intends to leave Transylvania for his new manor in Wismar, Germany. In this new metropolis Dracula will be able to feed without fear of discovery.  Dracula will also take possession of Lucy.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Nosferatu the Vampyre is a melding of Dracula (1931) and the 1922 film Nosferatu.   For my money, Dracula (1931) is by far the better of the three.  (And of the four if we include 2024’s Nosferatu.)

Much of Nosferatu the Vampyre is filmed during the day which isn’t the best time for a vampire movie.  The character design of Nosferatu and his portrayal wasn’t frightening or intimidating.  The still photos from the film were creepy, but lost something on screen.

I did like the idea that much of what happens to Harker and what he sees in Dracula’s castle might just be in his mind.  Is the castle a ruin or fully intact?  Is the boy who plays the violin real?  I also liked the ending’s twist.  Still, the movie overall fell short for me.  I was expecting much more.

Nosferatu the Vampyre (1979) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“Operation: Rainfall” (2020) written & directed by Luke Sparke / Z-View

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Operation: Rainfall (2020)

Director:  Luke Sparke

Screenplay: Luke Sparke; additional dialogue by Dale Dye, Felix Williamson

Stars: Dan Ewing, Temuera Morrison, Lawrence Makoare, Jet Tranter and Ken Jeong.

Tagline: Invasion was just the beginning.

The Plot…

Two years into an alien invasion, the resistance learns of an alien plan called “Rainfall”.  A battle-scarred vet, a young idealistic kid who wants to be a warrior and an alien sympathetic to the human fight, set out on a mission to take down the alien operation before it is too late.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Operation: Rainfall is a sequel to the 2018 film Occupation.

If you’re a fan of low-budget sci-fi, then Operation: Rainfall is for you.  It reminded me of something you’d see on Saturday mornings in the early 80s when there were attempts to cash in on the Star Wars craze.

Operation: Rainfall (2020) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“No One Lives” starring Luke Evans / Z-View

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No One Lives (2012)

Director:  Ryuhei Kitamura

Screenplay: David Cohen

Stars: Luke Evans, Gary Grubbs, Lee Tergesen, America Olivo, Beau Knapp, Rob Steinberg, Laura Ramsey, Michael ‘Mick’ Harrity and Tyrus.

Tagline: Everyone Runs. Everyone Hides. No One Lives.

The Plot…

While driving in a remote area on a cross-country moving trip, a couple is kidnapped by a gang of thieves.  The thugs plan to rob the couple and steal their trailer.  Everything changes when they discover something unexpected in the couple’s car trunk.

The thieves learn the meaning of “sometimes you get the bear and sometimes the bear gets you.”

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The discovery in the trunk is a great plot twist.  Unfortunately the movie then becomes very predictable.

No One Lives (2012) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“Nosferatu” (2024) written & directed by Robert Eggers; starring Lily-Rose Depp, Nicholas Hoult and Bill Skarsgård / Z-View

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Nosferatu (2024)

Director:  Robert Eggers

Screenplay: Robert Eggers; based on Nosferatu by Henrik Galeen; inspired by DRACULA by Bram Stoker

Stars: Lily-Rose Depp, Nicholas Hoult, Bill Skarsgård, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Emma Corrin, Ralph Ineson, Ralph Ineson and Willem Dafoe.

Tagline: Succumb to the darkness.

The Plot…

Thomas Hutter (Hoult) is sent to Transylvania to finalize an estate purchase with Count Orlok (Skarsgård).  Hutter is unaware that his employer is involved in the occult and that Orlok is a vampire infatuated with Hutter’s wife, Ellen (Depp).

Orlok intends to leave Transylvania for his new manor in Wisborg, Germany. In this new metropolis Orlok will be able to feed without fear of discovery.  Orlok will also take possession of Ellen.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The exteriors of Orlok’s castle are an actual Transylvanian castle.  Vlad Dracula was once imprisoned behind the castle’s walls.

Count Orlok is often surrounded by rats.  Professor Albin Eberhart Von Franz (Dafoe) and Ellen (Depp) are often seen with cats.  Cats kill rats.

This is Willem Dafoe’s second movie in regard to Nosferatu.  In Shadow of the Vampire (2000) he played Max Schreck, the actor who played Nosferatu in the original film.

Eggers’ Nosferatu has the feel of a creepy old black and white film thanks to use of a computer to remove the red and yellow color spectrums.

I like the idea of keeping Orlok/Nosferatu’s appearance a mystery in ads and much of the movie.  Sadly, I was disappointed in the look of Orlok/Nosferatu when we finally see him.  The big bushy mustache makes no sense if the rest of his body is decaying.

The solution to killing Orlok is found in an ancient text.  If the method to his demise is so well known, how come Orlok isn’t aware?

Eggers’ Nosferatu is a scary character study that slowly builds tension.  Settle back and enjoy the ride.

Nosferatu (2024) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Judge Dredd”: The Movie – The 30th Anniversary Edition!

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Just in time for the 30th anniversary of Sly Stallone as Judge Dredd comes the, you guessed it, 30th Anniversary Edition of Judge Dredd: The Movie by writer Andrew Helfer and artist, Carlos Ezquerra.  Here’s the synopsis…

In the Third Millenium, the world changed. Climate. Nations. All were in upheaval. Humanity itself turned as violent as the planet. Civilisation threatened to collapse. And then… a solution was found. The crumbling legal system was merged with the overburdened police, creating a powerful and efficient hybrid. These new guardians of society had the power to dispense both justice and punishment. They were police, jury, and executioner all in one. They were the Judges!

When Mega-City One erupts in violent block wars, there’s only one man Justice Department can rely on to suffocate the flames of rebellion. His name is Judge Dredd.

But when the city’s brightest beacon of justice is convicted of breaking the very law he’s been entrusted to uphold, he’s sentenced to spend the rest of his life rotting in the Aspen Penal Colony.

In order to clear his name, Dredd must escape captivity, make his way across the toxic Cursed Earth, break back into the city, and find the familiar foe that framed him. All in a day’s work for Judge Dredd.

Featuring art by legendary Judge Dredd co-creator Carlos Ezquerra (Preacher) and a script by Andrew Helfer (The Shadow), this is the official adaptation of Judge Dredd, the 1995 movie written by William Wisher, Jr. (Terminator 2: Judgement Day) and Steven E. de Souza (Die Hard).”

30th Anniversary Edition Judge Dredd: The Movie drops Wednesday 12th March 2025

“Smile 2” (2024) written & directed by Parker Finn; starring Naomi Scott / Z-View

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Smile 2 (2024)

Director: Parker Finn

Screenplay: Parker Finn

Stars: Naomi Scott, Rosemarie DeWitt, Lukas Gage, Miles Gutierrez-Riley, Peter Jacobson, Raúl Castillo, Roberts Jekabsons, Sean Stolzen, Jon Rua, Christopher Bailey and Drew Barrymore.

Tagline: It’s the last thing you’ll see.

The Plot…

Skye Riley (Scott) is just days away from her comeback concert.  A year ago Skye was in a car crash that killed her boyfriend and left her badly injured.  The crash led to public knowledge that Skye was suffering from substance abuse.  The path back was long and hard.  Now Skye is clean.  Everything rides on the upcoming concert.

When Skye re-injures her back during rehearsal, she reaches out to an old friend for some painkillers.  She sneaks away to her friend’s apartment.  When Skye arrives, her friend appears to be on something.  He’s having terrible hallucinations.  Suddenly he stands and smiles at Skye.  He picks up a weight and beats himself to death.  Skye quickly leaves.  She tells no one what she witnessed.

Over the next few days Skye begins to have memory loss and horrible visions.  People around Skye worry that she’s using again.  A stranger contacts Skye and describes the episodes she’s having.  He tells her she’s been cursed…

But he has a plan that could save her.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

As Skye thumbs through her cell phone contacts the names include: Adele, Beyoncé and Lady Gaga.

Naomi Scott is excellent as the famous pop star on the comeback trail.  Naomi Scott co-wrote several of Skye Riley’s songs with producer Alexis Idarose Kesselman.  A “Skye Riley” mini-album was released in conjunction with the film.

Writer/director Parker Finn comes up with an ending that I have to applaud.

Smile 2 (2024) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Fight Or Flight” starring Josh Hartnett, Katee Sackhoff and Charithra Chandran – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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Not a fan of the poster but the trailer to Fight Or Flight starring Josh Hartnett, Katee Sackhoff and Charithra Chandran has won me over.

Deal me in.

A mercenary takes on the job of tracking down a target on a plane but must protect her when they’re surrounded by people trying to kill both of them.

Starring: Josh Hartnett, Katee Sackhoff, Charithra Chandran, Julian Kostov, Marko Zaror

Directed by: James Madigan

“Killing Them Softly” (2008) written & directed by Andrew Dominik; starring Brad Pitt, Ray Liotta, Richard Jenkins, Scoot McNairy, Ben Mendelsohn & James Gandolfini / Z-View

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Killing Them Softly (2008)

Director: Andrew Dominik

Screenplay: Andrew Dominik based on COOGAN’S TRADE by George V. Higgins

Stars: Brad Pitt, Ray Liotta, Richard Jenkins, Scoot McNairy, Ben Mendelsohn, James Gandolfini, Vincent Curatola, Trevor Long, Max Casella, George Carroll, Linara Washington, Ross Brodar, Wade Allen, Christopher Berry, Dared Wright, Garret Dillahunt and Sam Shepard.

Tagline: In America you’re on your own.

The Plot…

Markie Trattman (Liotta) runs illegal poker nights for mobsters.  Trattman got the smart idea to rob his own game.  He hired two thugs to come in with guns and take down the cash only casino.  Although it worked, Trattman was suspected.  Since it was never confirmed that Tratman was behind the heist, he skated.  It took a while, but Trattman brought the poker nights back.

Johnny “Squirrel” Amato (Curatola) has the bright idea to follow Trattman’s lead.  Amato figures if the poker game is robbed, the mobsters will think Trattman decided to do it again.  They’ll bump off Trattman without looking too deeply.  Amato hires to low-life criminals to execute the robbery.  Against all odds they succeed.

Just like Amato thought, Trattman is the main suspect.  What Amato didn’t count on is the mobsters to bring in hitman and problem solver, Jackie Coogan (Pitt).  Coogan is ordered to find out who pulled off the heist and do what he does best.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Killing Them Softly is perfectly cast.  Even the smaller parts have memorable actors.  Garret Dillahunt appears uncredited.

I enjoy this movie more with every re-watch.

Killing Them Softly (2008) rates 4 of 5 stars.